Crowned Lapwing

Afrikaans name: Kroonkiewiet

Photo © Steven Herbert

Vanellus coronatus

The Crowned Lapwing is also known as the Crowned Plover. This is a very common bird which is found across virtually the whole of South Africa. It is also widespread across the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.

This Lapwing can be found in drier grasslands and in most other places with sparse vegetation. It can often be seen in areas of short-grass on roadside verges. They make their presence known as they call regularly and chase íntruders' off their territory.

Male and female are similar in looks. They grow to a length of about 30 cm.

Crowned Lapwings mainly feed on insects from termites through to grasshoppers.

A simple nest is made on the ground. It may be surrounded by pebbles or bits of vegetation.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 114

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 142

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 142

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 76

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 42

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 84

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 91

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 30

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 14

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 86

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Year Published: 2004 - Page: 179

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 124

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 122

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 122

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Year Published: 1990 - Page: 23

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 410

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 102

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 166

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 173

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 228

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 226

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 164

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 170

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Year Published: 1986 - Page: 267

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 149

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 16

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 152

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 84

List of South African Birds