Black-headed lapwing facts for kids
The black-headed lapwing (also called the black-headed plover) is a type of bird. Its scientific name is Vanellus tectus. It belongs to a group of birds called lapwings. Lapwings are medium-sized waders, which means they often live near water. This bird is part of the Charadriidae family.
You can find black-headed lapwings living in sub-Saharan Africa. They live from Senegal all the way to Ethiopia. These birds usually stay in one area. But sometimes they move around with the seasons. They lay two or three eggs. They make a simple nest on the ground.
Quick facts for kids Black-headed lapwing |
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| V. t. tectus, Senegal | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vanellus
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| Species: |
tectus
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| Synonyms | |
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Charadrius tectus Boddaert, 1783 |
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Contents
What Does the Black-headed Lapwing Look Like?
These birds are easy to spot and identify. They are medium-sized birds that wade in water. They have a mostly black head. But their forehead, lower face, and the back of their head are white.
They also have a small, wispy black crest. This crest is similar to the one on a northern lapwing. Their beak and legs are bright red. Their tail is white with a black tip.
How Do They Fly?
When a black-headed lapwing flies, you can see its wings clearly. The top part of their wings has black flight feathers. The other parts are brown. There is a white bar that separates these colors. The underside of their wings is white. But the flight feathers underneath are black.
Where Do Black-headed Lapwings Live?
This bird is a common breeder. It likes to live in wet, low-lying areas. These places are usually close to water.
What Do They Eat?
Black-headed lapwings often look for food in drier spots. You might see them on golf courses or in grassy areas. They pick up insects and other small creatures from the ground. These small creatures are called invertebrates.
What Sound Do They Make?
The black-headed lapwing has a special call. It sounds like a metallic tink-tink.
About Their Name
The black-headed lapwing was first described in 1781. A French scientist named Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon wrote about it. He saw a bird from Senegal.
Later, in 1783, a Dutch scientist named Pieter Boddaert gave it a scientific name. He called it Charadrius tectus. Today, this bird is in the genus Vanellus. This name was given by a French zoologist named Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.
The name Vanellus comes from a Latin word. It means "lapwing." It also relates to the word "winnowing" or "fan." This might describe how their wings move. The second part of its scientific name, tectus, is Latin for "covered." This refers to its black crown or head.
Different Types of Black-headed Lapwings
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the black-headed lapwing:
- V. t. tectus (Boddaert, 1783) – This type lives from southwest Mauritania to Ethiopia. It also lives south to Ivory Coast and Uganda.
- V. t. latifrons (Reichenow, 1881) – This type is found from southern Somalia to eastern Kenya.
