Black-headed Plovers or Black-headed Lapwings (Vanellus tectus)
Lapwings
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The Black-headed Plover or Black-headed Lapwing (Vanellus tectus) is a large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. It is a resident breeder across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, although it has seasonal movements. It lays two or three eggs on a ground scrape.
These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are medium-large waders with a black head other than a white forehead, lower face and bands across the rear head and nape. There is a wispy black crest like Northern Lapwing and the bill and legs are red. The tail is white, tipped black.
In flight, Black-headed Plover's upperwings have black flight feathers and brown coverts separated by a white bar. The underwings are white with black flight feathers.
This species is a common breeder in wet lowland habitats close to water. It often feeds in drier habitats, such as golf courses and grassy scrub, picking insects and other invertebrates from the ground.
Black-headed Plover has a metallic tink-tink call.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Vanellus tectus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Shorebirds - An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World by John Marchant, A. J. Prater and Peter Hayman ISBN 0-395-60237-8 (paperback) ISBN 0-7099-2034-2 (hardback).
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