Vanellus spinosus
The Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) is a striking and vociferous shorebird, instantly recognizable by its bold black, white, and grey plumage. Measuring approximately 25-28 cm (10-11 inches) in length with a wingspan of 60-70 cm (24-28 inches) and weighing 120-200 grams, it features a distinctive black crown, nape, and breast that contrast sharply with its white face, belly, and flanks. Its back and wing-coverts are a sandy-grey, while the flight feathers are jet black, particularly n...
This adaptable species primarily inhabits open, low-lying wetlands, including marsh edges, riverbanks, lake shores, and damp grasslands. It readily utilizes human-modified landscapes such as irrigated fields and pastures, typically at low to moderate elevations.
The Spur-winged Lapwing's diet consists primarily of a variety of insects, such as beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and their larvae, along with worms and other small terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. They forage mainly by gleaning from the surface and shallow probing in soft substrates.
Spur-winged Lapwings are diurnal birds, active throughout the day, foraging in open areas and roosting communally or individually, often near water. Their primary foraging strategy involves walking steadily, pausing to scan, then rapidly pecking at the ground to seize invertebrates, occasionally ...
The Spur-winged Lapwing boasts an extensive and largely stable geographic distribution across much of the Old World. Its primary breeding range encompasses a broad belt from sub-Saharan Africa, stretching from Senegal in the west across to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east. It extends northward th...
Least Concern
- The "spur" from which it gets its name is a sharp, bony protuberance on the bend of its wing, used as a weapon in territorial defense against predators and rivals. - Despite its fierce reputation, the Spur-winged Lapwing is often found nesting surprisingly close to human activity, including far...