Blacksmith lapwing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blacksmith lapwing |
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| At Etosha National Park, Namibia | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vanellus
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| Species: |
armatus
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| Synonyms | |
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Anitibyx armatus (Burchell, 1822) |
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The blacksmith lapwing or blacksmith plover (Vanellus armatus) is a type of lapwing bird. You can find it commonly in Africa, from Kenya through central Tanzania to the southern and southwestern parts. Its name comes from its alarm call, which sounds like a blacksmith hitting metal. It makes a repeated 'tink, tink, tink' sound.
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What Does the Blacksmith Lapwing Look Like?
Blacksmith lapwings have very bold patterns. They are colored in black, grey, and white. These bright colors might be warning colors to predators. This tells other animals to stay away!
This bird is one of five lapwing species that have red eyes and a bold black and white pattern. They also have a sharp black spur on their wing, near the wrist joint. They use this spur to protect their young from danger. They will aggressively dive at threats, often aiming for the head. The bird's beak is black. Its legs can be black or a mix of white and grey. Female lapwings are usually a bit bigger and heavier than males. However, both sexes generally look alike.
Where Do Blacksmith Lapwings Live?
Blacksmith lapwings live near wetlands of all sizes. Even small damp spots, like a spilling water trough, can attract them. In South Africa, they are most common in grassy areas that get a medium amount of rain. They are less common in grasslands with more rainfall.
Sometimes, these birds might leave countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe during very rainy years. They then return when it gets drier. They do not live in mountains.
Blacksmith lapwings have spread to new areas since the 1900s. This happened where new dams were built and where intensive farming was practiced. Because of this, they are now very common in the western Cape region of South Africa. They were not found there until the 1930s. In this area, they also go into river mouths and mud flats in winter. There, they aggressively chase away other wading birds. Even though they move around a bit, they don't seem to make long, regular migrations.
How Do Blacksmith Lapwings Live?
During the time when they are raising their young, blacksmith lapwings often act aggressively. They will chase away other lapwings or African jacanas that come into their wetland home. Their nests are shallow dips in the ground or short grass. They are always close to water. Nests are usually spaced at least 400 meters apart.
Blacksmith lapwings usually breed in spring. However, they might choose their nesting spot and time based on what is available. The young birds slowly separate from their parents. They do not return to the area where they were born later on. These lapwings eat small creatures that live in water and on land.
See also
- Lapwing
Gallery
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Nesting in a road in Kenya
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Adult, nest and egg in Tanzania
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Clutch near freshwater shoreline
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Clutch covered with plant debris in a garden
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Foraging at Lake Nakuru, Kenya
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In the Okavango Delta, Botswana
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At Etosha pan, Namibia
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In flight, showing wing spurs
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