Long-toed lapwing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-toed lapwing |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vanellus
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| Species: |
crassirostris
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| Synonyms | |
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Chetusia crassirostris Hartlaub, 1855 Hemiparra crassirostris (Hartlaub, 1855) |
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The long-toed lapwing (Vanellus crassirostris), also called the long-toed plover, is a type of wading bird found in central and eastern Africa. These birds live in places like Chad, South Sudan, and Mozambique. They are one of 13 kinds of lapwings in Africa that build their nests on the ground.
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What is a Long-toed Lapwing?
The long-toed lapwing was first officially described in 1855 by Gustav Hartlaub. It belongs to a group of birds called Vanellus, which includes other lapwings. The name Vanellus comes from a Latin word meaning "winnowing fan," which describes the sound their wings make when they fly. The second part of its name, crassirostris, means "thick-billed."
Long-toed lapwings are part of the family called Charadriidae. This family also includes plovers. Birds in this family usually hunt small bugs and worms by sight. They often run a little, then stop, then run again. Most of them also stay with one partner for life.
Different Types of Long-toed Lapwings
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the long-toed lapwing:
- V. c. crassirostris: Found mostly from South Sudan to Uganda.
- V. c. leucopterus: Lives from Tanzania to northeast South Africa, and also in western Angola.
These two types meet in places like Tanzania and northern Malawi. Here, they sometimes mate with each other.
The two subspecies look a little different. The V. c. crassirostris has black feathers on its wings that are used for flying. But the V. c. leucopterus has mostly white flight feathers, with only the outer ones being black. The V. c. leucopterus also has slightly shorter wings but longer legs than the other type.
How to Identify a Long-toed Lapwing
The long-toed lapwing is about 31 cm (12 in) long and weighs between 162 g (5.7 oz) and 225 g (7.9 oz). It has brown, black, and white feathers. It has long red legs, very long toes, and a red beak with a black tip.
When it flies, you can see a lot of white on its wings. Its legs and feet also stick out past its tail. Both male and female long-toed lapwings look the same. Their feathers do not change with the seasons. Young lapwings have a browner chest than adult birds.
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Similar Birds
The White-crowned lapwing is another bird that has a lot of white on its wings. However, the long-toed lapwing always has some black on its main flight feathers. This helps you tell them apart.
Where Long-toed Lapwings Live
Long-toed lapwings live in central and eastern Africa. You can find them from South Sudan in the north to Botswana, Mozambique, and northeast South Africa. There are also some groups in Chad and western Angola.
These birds love living near water. They prefer lakes, ponds, marshes, and swamps. They find their food on plants that float on the water. During the dry season, they stay near the edges of pools. In the wet season, they might be found in flooded rice fields. They usually stay in the same area as long as there is water. They use the same places for nesting and finding food.
Long-toed lapwings often live in the same places as African Jacanas. Because they share food and space, lapwings sometimes act aggressively towards jacanas. They might swoop down at them without actually touching them.
Long-toed Lapwing Behaviour
Diet and Foraging
Long-toed lapwings are special because they feed like jacanas. They look for water insects, larvae, beetles, ants, dragonfly nymphs, and snails. They walk on floating plants, and their long toes help spread out their weight so they don't sink.
Some lapwings have been seen stirring the water with one foot. This might help bring hidden prey to the surface. They often hunt alone. However, in the dry season, they might gather in family groups or larger groups of 10 to 20 birds. One time, about 80 lapwings were seen together in Malawi.
Sometimes, long-toed lapwings follow spur-winged geese. The geese can pull up dead plants, which might disturb insects for the lapwings to eat. Long-toed lapwings also chase away other birds from their feeding areas. This includes birds like African jacanas and squacco herons.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Long-toed lapwings are monogamous, meaning they stay with one partner. They strongly protect their small nesting areas from other lapwings. Both the male and female birds help to incubate the eggs, defend their territory, and care for their young.
Parents fiercely protect their chicks from predators. These predators include African fish-eagles, harriers, and coucals. The lapwings make loud alarm calls and swoop down to scare away threats. They can tell the difference between dangerous birds like harriers and harmless birds like vultures.
Their nest can be made of plants or mud. It is usually on the ground near the water's edge or on floating plants. If it's near the water, the nest is a shallow scrape. If it's on floating plants, it's shaped like a cup.
Female lapwings lay 1 to 4 eggs. The eggs are brown or olive with dark spots. They sit on the eggs for 27 to 30 days. The chicks are very active soon after hatching. They leave the nest just a few hours after they are born. They learn to fly about two months later. Young birds often stay with their parents for another 1 to 2 months after they can fly.
Long-toed lapwings can breed all year round. In central Africa, they lay eggs from December to March. In eastern Africa, they lay eggs from June to November.
Vocalizations
Their calls sound like repeated clicks with a metallic tone, like "kick-k-k-k." They also make a high-pitched "wheet" sound when they are startled. They call more often during the breeding season, especially when they are chasing other birds away from their territory.
Predators and Parasites
Birds like harriers, coucals, and African fish-eagles hunt long-toed lapwings.
Long-toed lapwings can also have tiny creatures called Quill mites living inside their feather quills. These mites feed on fluids from the bird's skin. They usually live only on specific types of birds.
Conservation Status
The long-toed lapwing is listed as a Least Concern species by the IUCN Red List. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
There are not many exact numbers for their total population. However, the population in southern Africa is estimated to be between 25,000 and 50,000 birds. One threat to these birds is when humans use their wetland habitats, for example, for farming or with livestock.
