Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus armatus
Wetlands and open grass, common. Black and white with grey wings; black bill and legs.
Lapwings
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Very common resident. A pied plover with grey wings and mantle. Immature has the basic plumage pattern of adults, but in tones of speckled brown. The call is a metallic ‘klink, klink, klink’ (hence its name) repeated loudly and continuously when disturbed. Pairs and scattered individuals frequent the shores of a wide variety of inland waters, marshy ground, flooded fields and other moist places.
Quick Facts
Size
30 cm - M
Names
A: Bontkiewiet
Z: iNdudumela
Ss: Mootlatshepe
G: Waffenkiebitz, Schmiedekiebitz
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 scattered individuals frequent the shores of a wide variety of inland waters, marshy ground, flooded fields and other moist places.
