White-crowned Lapwing
Vanellus albiceps
Rivers sandbanks of major rivers.. Lateral head and neck grey; crown and underparts white; wings black and white; bill, wattles, legs yellow.
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Uncommon, localised resident. Distinguished from [African Wattled Lapwing] by longer wattles (longer than the bill), a broad white band (dark-edged in males) extending from the bill over the crown, entirely white underparts and a black wing bordered with white above. In flight the underwings appear mainly white. A noisy species, the call a sharp ‘peep, peep-peep, peep…’ uttered at rapid speed if the bird is flushed. Pairs and groups frequent the shores and sandbanks of large perennial rivers.
Quick Facts
Size
30 cm - M
Names
A: Witkopkiewiet
Ss: Lekekeruane La Hlahellalelele
G: Langspornkiebitz
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 groups frequent the shores and sandbanks of large perennial rivers.
