The Double-striped Thick-knee is distributed from southern Mexico to Costa Rica, from northern Colombia to Guyana, in northeastern Brazil, and on Curaçao and Hispaniola. Like other thick-knees, it occurs in dry pastures and other open areas. It is the only thick-knee within its range, and the long legs and neck, large eyes, and short bill allow immediate identification. Largely nocturnal, these birds often crouch in a shady place and droop their upper eyelids in the bright midday sun. They feed by walking along, bending over plover-like to pick up invertebrates. Thick-knees call noisily at night or when disturbed, a repeated kek note that gets louder and faster the more excited the caller becomes.