|
|
|
Useful Links |
African Wattled Lapwing | Vanellus senegallus
The African Wattled 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 African Wattled Lapwing (Latin name Vanellus senegallus) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Vanellus senegallus can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 260 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 412. You will find a picture of the African Wattled 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 Wattled Plover in the Roberts 6th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the African Wattled Lapwing between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The African Wattled Lapwing is known in Afrikaans as Lelkiewiet. The African Wattled Lapwing has a height of 35 cms and weighs around 250 gms. The head is coloured grey, brown while the bill is coloured yellow. The Vanellus senegallus has a black coloured throat, yellow, green legs and a grey, brown 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, brown Eyes are yellow Bill is yellow Legs are yellow, green Throat is black Back is grey, brown 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 African Wattled 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 2 to 4 eggs and they are coloured grey. 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 African Wattled Lapwing is found in the Southern African wetlands, riverine forests and moist grasslands. The bird is at home in riverine forests and close to water bodies such as lakes, dams and streams You can see the African Wattled Lapwing bird on coastal regions and on the sea shore where the bird will be foraging with other birds Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The African Wattled Lapwing is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. It is also seen in flocks |
