African Wattled Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus
Moist grassland. Forecrown white; rear of crown dark brown; neck streaked black; rest of upperparts and breast pale grey-brown; belly white; wattles, bill and legs yellow.
Lapwings
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident. Bright yellow bill, wattles and legs distinguish it from all but [White-crowned Lapwing], from which it differs in shorter wattles, white patch only on forecrown, a streaked neck, lack of white bars on folded wings and brown breast and underparts (except for the belly). The call is a shrill ‘kwep-kwep-kwep-kwep’, speeding up with increased agitation. Pairs and small groups frequent grassy waterside localities, riverbanks, dam walls, fringes of sewage ponds and vleis.
Quick Facts
Size
35 cm - M
Names
A: Lelkiewiet
Z: umadevaphuzi
Ss: Lekekeruane La Hlahellakgutshwane
G: Senegalkiebitz
Bird Family
Long-legged terrestrial birds with characteristically black, white and brown colouring. Usually found in pairs or small groups, favouring short grassland areas never far from fresh water. Lapwings breed during the winter season, laying their well camouflaged eggs into a shallow scrape on the ground, which they aggressively and noisily defend from humans and other predators.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Pairs and small groups frequent grassy waterside localities, riverbanks, dam walls, fringes of sewage ponds and vleis.
