Blacksmith lapwing

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Blacksmith lapwing
Vanellus armatus - Etosha 2014.jpg
At Etosha National Park, Namibia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Genus: Vanellus
Species:
V. armatus
Binomial name
Vanellus armatus
(Burchell, 1822)
Vannellus armatus distribution.JPG
Synonyms

Anitibyx armatus(Burchell, 1822)
Charadrius armatusBurchell, 1822

Contents

The blacksmith lapwing or blacksmith plover (Vanellus armatus) is a lapwing species that occurs commonly from Kenya through central Tanzania to southern and southwestern Africa. The vernacular name derives from the repeated metallic 'tink, tink, tink' alarm call, which suggests a blacksmith's hammer striking an anvil.

Description

Blacksmith lapwings are very boldly patterned in black, grey and white, possibly warning colours to predators. It is one of five lapwing species (two African, one Asian and two Neotropical) that share the characteristics of red eyes and a bold pied plumage, with a carpal (wing) spur adorning the wrist joint; a sharp black protrusion which they use to aggressively defend their young from potential threats, through persistent aerial dives typically targeting the head. The portions of the bird's body bare to plumage average a black coloration for the bill, and either a black or white-grey dappling on the legs. Females average larger and heavier but the sexes are generally alike. [2]

Habitat and numbers

The blacksmith lapwing occurs in association with wetlands of all sizes. Even very small damp areas caused by a spilling water trough can attract them. In South Africa they are most numerous in the mesic grassland region, less so in higher-rainfall grasslands. Like the crowned lapwing, this species may leave Zambia and Zimbabwe in years of high rainfall and return in dry years. It avoids mountains of any type. [3]

Blacksmith lapwings expanded their range in the 20th century into areas where dams were built and where intensive farming was practiced. Consequently, they are now numerous and established in the western Cape region of South Africa, where they were absent until the 1930s. [3] In this region they have also entered estuarine mud flats in winter where they aggressively displace other waders. [2] Although they are partially migratory, they do not seem to engage in large-scale, regular migrations. [3]

Ecology

A blacksmith lapwing walking on top of the Cape Town Castle.

During the breeding season, the species often reacts aggressively to other lapwings or African jacanas that may enter its wetland habitat. Nests are shallow depressions on bare ground or short grass, close to water, and tend to be spaced at least 400 m apart. [1] The blacksmith lapwing breeds in spring, but its choice of nesting site and timing may be opportunistic. The young separate gradually from their parents and do not return to natal areas afterwards. [3] This lapwing feeds on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Lapwing Subfamily of birds

Lapwings are any of various ground-nesting birds akin to plovers and dotterels. They range from 10 to 16 inches in length, and are noted for their slow, irregular wingbeats in flight and a shrill, wailing cry. A group of lapwings is called a "deceit."

Sociable lapwing Species of bird

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White-crowned lapwing Species of bird

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Red-wattled lapwing Species of bird

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Masked lapwing Species of bird in the family Charadriidae

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Yellow-wattled lapwing Species of bird

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Black-headed lapwing Species of bird

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<i>Vanellus</i> Genus of birds

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Kittlitzs plover Species of bird

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Southern lapwing Species of bird from South America

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Banded lapwing Species of bird

The banded lapwing is a small to medium-sized shorebird, found in small parties or large flocks on bare ground in open grasslands, agricultural land and open savannah. It is native to Australia and in the past considered as a game bird for hunting. Population estimate is 25 000 - 1 000 000. Other names include banded, black-breasted, brown flock and plain plover.

Black-winged lapwing Species of bird

The black-winged lapwing or greater black-winged lapwing is an east African species that is found from the Ethiopian highlands in the north to central Kenya, and again at middle to coastal elevations in eastern South Africa. It is a habitat specialist of short grass in well-watered temperate grasslands. They may move about locally to find ideal situations, often at night. In their tightly grouped flying flocks they resemble plovers.

Crowned lapwing Species of bird

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White-fronted plover Species of shorebird of the family Charadriidae from Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar

The white-fronted plover or white-fronted sandplover is a small shorebird of the family Charadriidae that inhabits sandy beaches, dunes, mudflats and the shores of rivers and lakes in sub-saharan Africa and Madagascar. It nests in small shallow scrapes in the ground and lays clutches of one to three eggs. The species is monogamous and long-lived, with a life expectancy of approximately 11 years. The vast majority of pairs that mate together stay together during the following years of breeding and retain the same territory. The white-fronted plover has a similar appearance to the Kentish plover, with a white fore crown and dark bands connecting the eyes to the bill.

River lapwing Species of bird

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Madagascar plover Species of bird

The Madagascar plover, also known as the black-banded plover, is a small monogamous shorebird in the family Charadriidae, native to western Madagascar. It inhabits shores of lagoons, coastal grasslands, and breeds in salt marshes. These plovers mainly nest in open grassland and dry mudflats surrounding alkaline lakes. The species is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN because of its low breeding success, slow reproductive rate, and weak adaptation to increasing habitat loss, leading to declining population numbers.

Senegal lapwing Species of bird

The Senegal lapwing or lesser black-winged lapwing is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Yellow-crowned bishop Species of bird

The yellow-crowned bishop is a species of passerine bird in the family Ploceidae native to Africa south of the Sahara. It is highly sexually dimorphic in its breeding season, during which the male adopts a distinctive yellow and black plumage, contrasting with the female's predominantly brown coloration. Three subspecies are recognised.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Vanellus armatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22693978A93432296. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693978A93432296.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Hockey, P.A.R.; Dean, W.R.J.; Ryan, P.G. (2005). Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa (7th ed.). Trustees of J. Voelcker Bird Book Fund.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ward, D.; Underhill, L.G.; Tree, A.J. "Blacksmith Plover". The atlas of southern African birds - Blacksmith Plover (PDF). Vol. 1: Non-passerines.

Further reading