The Black-headed Plover or Black-headed Lapwing (Vanellus tectus) is a large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae.
Distribution / Range
It is a resident breeder across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, although it has seasonal movements. It lays two or three eggs on a ground scrape.
This species is a common breeder in wet lowland habitats close to water. It often feeds in drier habitats, such as golf courses and grassy scrub, picking insects and other invertebrates (= animals without internal skeleton) from the ground.
Description
These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are medium-large waders with a black head other than a white forehead, lower face and bands across the rear head and nape (back of the neck). There is a wispy black crest like Northern Lapwing and the bill and legs are red. The tail is white, tipped black.
In flight, Black-headed Plover’s upperwings have black flight feathers and brown coverts separated by a white bar. The underwings are white with black flight feathers.
Vocalization
Black-headed Plover has a metallic tink-tink call.
