From Opus

Alternative name: Blacksmith Lapwing

Adult showing the 'spurs'
Photo by Alan Manson
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Johannesburg, South Africa, April 2007

Vanellus armatus

[edit] Identification

30cm

• White belly, nape patch, underwings, rump
• Tail black and white
• Rest of plumage black
• Carpal spurs (sometimes hidden in feathers)
• Red eyes
• Very long legs
  

Sexes similar

[edit] Distribution

Juvenile
Photo by Max Holdt
Windhoek, Namibia, April 2007

Africa, south of the Sahara:
Western Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Swaziland

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Pairs and scattered individuals frequent the shores of a wide variety inland waters and in marshy ground, flooded fields and other moist places.

[edit] Behaviour

Photo by GiGi
Near to Cape Town, South Africa, Summer 2006

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects, worms, snails, seeds, molluscs and crustaceans.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is a ground scrape, formed by both adults. The clutch consists of 4 eggs; incubation starts once the last egg is laid and lasts for 23-31 days. Both parents incubate the eggs.

[edit] Vocalisation

Call: Clink, clink (sounding like a blacksmith hammering metal).

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Avibase
3. Honoluluzoo
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links