Alternative name: Black-headed Plover
- Vanellus tectus
Identification
A large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae.
A medium-large wader with a black head apart from a white forehead, and a white band round lower face and round the rear head and nape. A black crest like Northern Lapwing. The bill and legs are red. Black tip to the white tail.
Flight
The upperwings show black flight feathers and brown coverts separated by a white bar. The underwings are white with black flight feathers.
Distribution
It is a resident breeder across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, although it has seasonal movements.
Taxonomy
Subspecies1
Habitat
Usually breeds in wet lowland habitats close to water, feeding in drier areas, such as golf courses and grassy scrub.
Behaviour
Diet
Insects and other invertebrates.
Breeding
It lays two or three eggs on a ground scrape.
Vocalisation
Call: a metallic "tink-tink".
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Black-headed Lapwing. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Black-headed_Lapwing
