Spotted Dikkop
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Spotted dikkops, which can stand up to 18 inches tall, have long legs, a brown-and-white speckled coat, a round head, bright yellow eyes, and a short beak. They hunt on the ground, feeding on insects, small mammals, and lizards. These wading birds build their nest in a scrape in the ground, which they line with grasses, feathers, pebbles, and twigs.
Interesting Fact 1
Spotted dikkops hunt for insects by repeatedly running forward, stopping, and jabbing at prey with their bill.
Interesting Fact 2
Their brown, spotted feathers serve as camouflage, allowing them to blend into their grassland habitat.
Interesting Fact 3
They can have multiple broods, nesting two to three separate clutches in one breeding season.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
Support Your Zoo
Animals Depend On People Too
When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.
Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
