Senegal Wattled Plover
|
|
| Senegal Wattled Plover Conservation status: Lower risk (lc) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Vanellus senegallus (Linnaeus, 1766) |
The Senegal Wattled Plover, Vanellus senegallus, is a large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. It is a resident breeder in most of sub-Saharan Africa outside the rainforests, although it has seasonal movements.
These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are large brown waders with a black crown, white forehead and large yellow facial wattles. The tail is white, tipped black and the long legs are yellow .
In flight, Senegal Wattled Plover's upperwings have black flight feathers and brown coverts separated by a white bar. The underwings are white with black flight feathers.
This species is a common breeder in wet lowland habitats, especially damp grassland. It often feeds in drier habitats, such as golf courses, picking insects and other invertebrates from the ground. It lays three or four eggs on a ground scrape.
Senegal Wattled Plover has a loud peep-peep call.
Reference
Shorebirds by Hayman, Marchant and Prater ISBN 0-873403-19-4