Black-winged lapwing
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Vanellus melanopterus

The black-winged lapwing or greater black-winged lapwing (Vanellus melanopterus ) is an east African species that is found from the Ethiopian highlands in the north to central Kenya (race V. m. melanopterus ), and again at middle to coastal elevations in eastern South Africa (race V. m. minor ). 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.

Appearance

A black breast band separates the lapwing's grey head and neck from the white underside. The wing coverts are brown. It has a variable but prominent white forehead patch similar to its near relative, the Senegal lapwing, but in contrast shows a prominent white wingbar in flight, bordered by black remiges. The two species are also separated by their respective habitat preferences, the Senegal lapwing preferring lower, mostly drier locations.

Geography

Continents
Regions Regions
Biogeographical realms

Habits and Lifestyle

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Population

Population number

Human activities impact both positively and negatively on this species; it is not endangered. The black-winged lapwing is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

References

1. Black-winged lapwing Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-winged_lapwing
2. Black-winged lapwing on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22694038/93435105
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/517498

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