Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

Other Names (World)
Blacksmith Lapwing, Blacksmith Plover

Family
Charadriidae (Plovers)

Size
31 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Burchell, 1822)

Habitat
Dry, moist or marshy grasslands, mudflats, saltflats and flood-plains around freshwater or saline lagoons, lakes, dams, water-holes, rivers, marshes, swamps, saltpans and estuaries. During the non-breeding season flocks may also congregate around sewage farms.

Range (Guide)

Angola, Botswana, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania [United Republic of], Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Vagrant to Burundi, St Helena.

Angola to central Tanzania and central-southern Kenya, and south to South Africa, except western coast of Namibia.

Population
Estimated population is 100,000 - 1,000,000 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Molluscs, crustaceans, worms and insects.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (32)...)

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) [XC650876]
by Tony Archer from Wild Fig Farm, Wild Fig Country Estate, South Africa (uncertain)

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) [XC834844]
by Marc Anderson from Manyeleti Game Reserve, South Africa (call)

Nest
A shallow scrape or depression placed on bare ground or in short grass very close to water. In solitary, territorial pairs.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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