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Black-winged Lapwing | Vanellus melanopterus
The Black-winged Lapwing is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Charadriidae bird family group which includes birds such as Plovers, Lapwings. The description for the Black-winged Lapwing (Latin name Vanellus melanopterus) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Vanellus melanopterus can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 257 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 415. You will find a picture of the Black-winged Lapwing on page 385. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. This bird is known as Black-winged Plover in the Roberts 6th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Black-winged Lapwing between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Black-winged Lapwing is known in Afrikaans as Grootswartvlerkkiewiet. The Black-winged Lapwing has a height of 27 cms and weighs around 190 gms. The head is coloured grey while the bill is coloured black. The Vanellus melanopterus has a grey coloured throat, purple legs and a grey coloured back. The eyes are yellow. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is grey Eyes are yellow Bill is black Legs are purple Throat is grey Back is grey Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the ground This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Black-winged Lapwing is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 1 to 4 eggs and they are coloured green. The bird builds its nest on the ground with figs, straw and leaves. The nest is placed under a bush to protect the young from predators. The bird is mainly found in the Savanna grasslands where it breeds and feeds. Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...This bird is usually seen in small family groups or in large flocks |
