Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
[[Image:Wattledplover.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Photo by MikeB.<br />Photo taken: Angola. Notice the visible wing-spurs.]] | [[Image:Wattledplover.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Photo by MikeB.<br />Photo taken: Angola. Notice the visible wing-spurs.]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
+ | Length 35 cm, mass 160-293 g; the largest African lapwing. | ||
+ | |||
Brown, black crown, white forehead and large yellow facial wattles, upperwings have black flight feathers and brown coverts separated by a white bar, underwings are white with black flight feathers. White tail, tipped black, and the long legs are yellow. | Brown, black crown, white forehead and large yellow facial wattles, upperwings have black flight feathers and brown coverts separated by a white bar, underwings are white with black flight feathers. White tail, tipped black, and the long legs are yellow. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]. | Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
− | ''Vanellus senegallus'' has three subspecies: | + | ''Vanellus senegallus'' has three subspecies:<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup> |
− | *''V. s. senegallus'' | + | *''V. s. senegallus'' |
− | *''V. s. major'' | + | :*[[Senegal]] to southern [[Sudan]], north-eastern [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] and northern [[Uganda]] |
− | *''V. s. lateralis'' | + | *''V. s. major'' |
+ | :*[[Eritrea]] and [[Ethiopia]] | ||
+ | *''V. s. lateralis'' | ||
+ | :*Southern [[Congo]] and [[Angola]] to [[Mozambique]] and north-eastern [[South Africa]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
− | Marshes, ponds, rivers and streams, grassland, savanna, | + | Marshes, ponds, rivers and streams, short grassland, savanna, croplands, cultivated pastures and burnt grassland. |
− | |||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
− | The diet includes grasshoppers, locusts, beetles, crickets, termites, aquatic insects, worms, coarse grass leaves and grass seeds. | + | Usually singly, in pairs, or in small groups; sometimes in larger flocks when not breeding. Forages while walking. The diet includes grasshoppers, locusts, beetles, crickets, termites, aquatic insects, worms, coarse grass leaves and grass seeds. |
− | + | The nest is a shallow depression in short grass or bare ground, but always near water. Two to four eggs are laid, and incubated for 28-32 days by both sexes. Chicks leave the nest the day of hatching. | |
==References== | ==References== | ||
− | + | # Clements JF. 2007. ''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World''. 6th ed., with updates to October 2008. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019 | |
+ | # Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. ''Robert's Birds of Southern Africa'', 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533 | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Vanellus+senegallus}} | {{GSearch|Vanellus+senegallus}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Vanellus]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Vanellus]] |
Revision as of 17:54, 12 August 2008
Alternative names: African Wattled Lapwing; Senegal Wattled Plover; Wattled Plover
- Vanellus senegallus
Identification
Length 35 cm, mass 160-293 g; the largest African lapwing.
Brown, black crown, white forehead and large yellow facial wattles, upperwings have black flight feathers and brown coverts separated by a white bar, underwings are white with black flight feathers. White tail, tipped black, and the long legs are yellow.
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa.
Taxonomy
Vanellus senegallus has three subspecies:1
- V. s. senegallus
- Senegal to southern Sudan, north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Uganda
- V. s. major
- V. s. lateralis
- Southern Congo and Angola to Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa
Habitat
Marshes, ponds, rivers and streams, short grassland, savanna, croplands, cultivated pastures and burnt grassland.
Behaviour
Usually singly, in pairs, or in small groups; sometimes in larger flocks when not breeding. Forages while walking. The diet includes grasshoppers, locusts, beetles, crickets, termites, aquatic insects, worms, coarse grass leaves and grass seeds.
The nest is a shallow depression in short grass or bare ground, but always near water. Two to four eggs are laid, and incubated for 28-32 days by both sexes. Chicks leave the nest the day of hatching.
References
- Clements JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2008. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
- Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533