It is the case of the curious curlew, but it is not as odd as it seems.

A photograph of a bush stone-curlew caught up in its own reflection with a sign above it to let people know it was OK has gone viral.

"I'm a bush stone curlew," the sign read.

"I'm fine. I just like to stare at myself in the window."

The bird was photographed on Tuesday outside a building at Queensland University of Technology's Kelvin Grove campus by ABC News journalist Nick Wiggins and shared on Twitter.

Loading...

It has since garnered thousands of shares, appearances on Reddit, its own series of memes, and even a Facebook page dedicated to it.

It has given us all a good laugh, but should we be concerned about this bird and its strange behaviour?

The answer is no, according to Wildcare Australia volunteer Caitlin Raynor, who wrote the sign to alleviate any concerns.

Ms Raynor spotted the curlew on her way into work at the university.

"It's definitely an odd but common behaviour for curlews to stare at their reflection," she said.

"They're primarily nocturnal birds, so they don't get to see their reflection at night. Staring at their reflection in windows is something these crazy birds just like to do.

"Since they don't demonstrate any aggressive behaviour when doing it I can only imagine they're just enthralled with the other bird they're seeing."

Ms Raynor said she has taken plenty of emergency calls throughout her time with Wildcare Australia about curlews.

"It's a relatively common phone call ... people say there's a bird standing in a corner and automatically you know it's going to be a curlew," she said.

"The people who ring the hotline think the bird should be running away, but their defence is not to run away ... just stand still and pretend people can't see them."

Ms Raynor said this particular curlew stuck around most of the day, but was gone by 4:00pm.

"I don't know where he came from... there's a bushy strip next to park in the building where he may call home," she said.

Ms Raynor said the best thing to do when coming across a curlew caught up in its own looks was to leave it alone.

"We just leave it to be on its own and not disturb it, and just accept it's not an unusual behaviour," she said.

"In this case there's nothing hurting the bird and it tends to move off ... it's just a matter of waiting.

"If it's a consistent problem we suggest someone try and rectify the situation ... say by putting posters up to get rid of reflection."

Anyone concerned about wildlife injured or otherwise can contact RSPCA Queensland on 1300 ANIMAL or Wildcare Australia on 5527 2444.

"There's no harm in us checking but in this scenario it was pretty obvious what was going on," Ms Raynor said.

Loading

Councillor's own brush with 'Sir Kerr Llew'

Brisbane City councillor Ryan Murphy had his own run-in with a curlew, which he affectionately named Sir Kerr Llew, earlier this year.

"This bird stood staring into our reception area for hours," he wrote on Facebook in late January.

"Upon contacting RSPCA to see if they could explain the odd behaviour, we were informed that the bird is in fact, nocturnal, and as such is fascinated [hypnotised] by seeing its reflection in the daytime. Apparently it will depart at sundown."

However the bird kept coming back.

"Whilst it leaves each night, it returns before daybreak to greet itself," Cr Murphy wrote.

"The accountants next door have kindly left the bird a bowl of water, but its thirst can't be quenched. Sometimes, it gets tired of standing and gets down on its haunches.

"Pray that it wakes from this living nightmare."

Eventually corflute signs were erected to block the bird's view of itself.

"RSPCA refuse to pick it up, so I guess Sir Kerr Llew must stay. Like an 'office volunteer' who hangs around a lot, eventually I will be forced to put it on staff," Mr Murphy wrote.

By mid-February the curlew had flown the coop, only to return.

"But like all Brisbane natives; the brown snake, King Wally and our housing affordability saw him fly north once the weather had passed."