Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus Scientific name definitions

Crowned Lapwing is a large plover that is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, where they are common in dry, open habitats. Their striking appearance, with a black-and-white crown, and bright red bill and legs, is matched by its equally loud and striking call. Its loud, raspy calls can be heard throughout the year, and can be a ubiquitous part of the soundscape. They are especially vocal during the breeding season, when males call while giving a flight display, which females may join. Lapwings can be part of relatively large groups, and may be semi-colonial in its nesting behavior, where they nest on the ground often 25-50 m from another pair.

20–34 cm; 126–200 g (coronatus). Very distinctive horizontal black and white bands surrounding black crown ; pale brownish above and on breast , with darker lower breast ending in black line . Female smaller than male. No seasonal variation. Juvenile has less well defined white headband, buff brown at front; black head feathers tipped brown; feathers of upperparts fringed buff. Race demissus somewhat smaller, with paler, warmer brown on upperparts, wings and breast.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Sometimes placed in genus Hoplopterus or Stephanibyx. Birds from SW Angola and W Zimbabwe to N South Africa sometimes separated as race xerophilus, but doubtfully distinct. Has apparently hybridized with V. tectus in Kenya (1 Finch, B.W. (2013). Is it a Black-headed Plover or a Crowned Plover? Nature Kenya 7: 4. Close ). Two subspecies recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Wide variety of dry , open habitats , treeless or sparsely wooded: savanna, open patches in thornbush or bushveld, cultivated land, fallow fields, airports, golf courses, open areas near towns and even desert and dunes. Attracted to recently burnt grasslands. Not associated with water, generally avoiding moist ground; however, large flocks may roost during the day near waterside or on small islands in lakes or rivers. Recorded to 1970 m in Ethiopia (2 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but lower in S of range, e.g., to 1660 m in Zambia (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ).

Commonly resident, but some erratic movements; in E Africa, some birds resident, others dispersive, e.g., perhaps largely vacates Malawi at height of wet season (Jan–Feb) (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ); mainly sedentary in South Africa. Movements related to habitat changes; birds follow dry-season fires, and leave during peak rains or when grass grows too long. Occurs in pairs or flocks of 10–40, maximum 150 birds, especially just after breeding season; flocks are loosely associated and wide-ranging.

Food includes insects and their larvae, especially termites, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets and ants; possibly earthworms. Most active at dusk, and also active during moonlit nights; probably feeds mainly during late afternoon and night. Sometimes feeds near cattle and has also been observed foraging in association with bat-eared foxes (Otocyon megalotis), which are also insectivorous (5 Stenkewitz, U. and Kamler, J.F. (2008). Birds feeding in association with bat-eared foxes on Benfontein Game Farm, South Africa. Ostrich. 79(2): 235–237. Close ). Take-off before flight to feeding ground is preceded by display.

The commonest vocalization of this species is a raspy Krueeet, which led to the Afrikaans name 'Kiewiet,' similar to the Dutch name 'Kievit' for its relative, the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus).

Vocal Development

Chicks give a quiet squeak while still inside the egg (from 48 h prior to hatching; 6 Urban, E. K. J., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, United Kingdom. Close ). Once hatched, they initially make short cheeping calls at high frequency (on sonogram an inverted V reaching 5 kHz and 0.25 s duration), and utter similar but lower-pitched (up to 4 kHz) calls when growing older till the moment the chicks are able to fly. From then on, adult-like Krueeet calls are uttered (7 Ward, D.M. (1987). The biology and systematic relationship of Crowned, Blackwinged and Lesser Blackwinged Plovers. PhD study. Pietermaritsburg. Close ). Young remain with the parents during the first year, and in the case of another clutch within the same year, young also defend territory by mobbing and calling (8 Ward, D. (1989). Feeding ecology of Crowned, Blackwinged and Lesser Blackwinged Plovers. Ostrich. 60(3): 97–102. Close ).

Vocal Array

Krueeet. The commonest vocalization of this species is an upslurred grating or raspy disyllabic Krueeet, repeated at intervals. Krueeet note is quite variable in duration (about 0.3-0.6 s), average pitch, and overall sound quality. Pace typically about 1-2notes/s.

Krekrekree. A fast series of krek calls slowing down somewhat in pace and leading to a steady series of Kreee calls, is typically given when a bird takes off and starts vocalizing in flight.

Rrrrrreh. A low-pitched drawn-out grating or growling rrrrrrreh, only slightly rising in pitch (and lacking the disyllabic modulation of the Krueeet call). Duration about 0.7-1.0 s.

Rik-rik-rik. Short overslurred rik notes given in series at a steady pace.

Chika-chika-chika. A clear disyllabic chika-chika-chika or witta-witta-witta is uttered by one member of a pair during nuptial flight and upon subsequent alighting, while the other bird may utter Krueeet or Rrrrreh calls.

Other. A krr krr call is uttered by the female when soliciting nest relief towards the male, and a low-pitched krr krr call is also given as an all-clear signal to chicks after a dangerous situation (7 Ward, D.M. (1987). The biology and systematic relationship of Crowned, Blackwinged and Lesser Blackwinged Plovers. PhD study. Pietermaritsburg. Close ).

Geographic Variation

Has not been studied in detail, but no obvious vocal differences between subspecies.

Phenology

Krueet and Krekrekree calls can be heard year-round, but significantly more during the breeding period, when birds are highly territorial. Other calls are mainly uttered during the breeding period and when nestlings have hatched.

Daily Pattern of Vocalizing

Mainly vocal during the day, without a clear daily cycle, but they can also be heard frequently at night. Vocal activity is mainly determined by daily activities, such as keeping contact with group or family members, alarming for intruders, and breeding activities.

Places of Vocalizing

Vocalizes from the ground or when flying, either when flushed or when circling around an intruder.

Sex Differences

Little information. All vocalizations presumably used by both sexes.

Social Content and Presumed Functions of Vocalizations

A behavioral study in South Africa (with color-marked birds; 7 Ward, D.M. (1987). The biology and systematic relationship of Crowned, Blackwinged and Lesser Blackwinged Plovers. PhD study. Pietermaritsburg. Close , 8 Ward, D. (1989). Feeding ecology of Crowned, Blackwinged and Lesser Blackwinged Plovers. Ostrich. 60(3): 97–102. Close ) noted the following: at the onset of the breeding season the male utters Krueeet calls to establish territory and attract a mate. The male flies over the chosen territory in a display-like butterfly flight with exaggerated wing-beats while calling. The female joins in with a similar butterfly-flight, and upon alighting, Chika-chika-chika calls are uttered, eventually leading to copulation. Intraspecific competition between males is also accompanied by Krueeet calls. Towards intruding potential predators, mobbing flights are accompanied with continuous Krueeet calls, except during the hottest hours of the day, when Rik-rik-rik calls are uttered from the ground at first, possibly to save energy. Function of Rrrrreh call not entirely clear, but possibly used in situations of low intensity alarm or arousal. Rik-rik-rik calls are also uttered during normal flight, including on moonlit nights (6 Urban, E. K. J., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, United Kingdom. Close ). Outside the breeding season, noisy group display flights are also noted, involving Krueeet and chika-chika-chika calls (6 Urban, E. K. J., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, United Kingdom. Close ).

None documented.

Breeds during dry season, when fires occur, but timing very variable geographically: year-round in E Africa, but depending on rains, e.g. records Jan–Sept in Ethiopia (2 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and Jan–Oct (peak May–Jun) in Somalia (9 Ash, J. S., and J. E. Miskell (1998). Birds of Somalia. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ); mostly Jun–Nov in S Africa, but from Apr in Zambia (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ) and year-round in KwaZulu-Natal (10 Brown, M. and Brown, K. (2004). Nest defence in Crowned Lapwings (Vanellus coronatus) — influences of nesting stage and ambient temperature. Ostrich. 75(3): 162–164. Close ). Monogamous. Non-territorial, semi-colonial nester; nests 25–50 m apart; occasionally noted defending territories when densities are high through space limitation; non-breeders often found close to breeding birds; highly demonstrative towards non-conspecific intruders after hatching. Prefers nesting among fresh grass on recently burnt fields; nest a scrape or depression in ground (115–135 mm wide and 25–38 mm deep) (11 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK, and New York, NY, USA. Close ), lined with plant material and debris, which accumulates during incubation; often close to tree, providing shade for off-duty partner; location regularly reused during several years. Clutch 2–3 eggs, occasionally four, with clutch of five from two females and one nest with seven eggs (three of present species and four of V. senegallus) (11 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK, and New York, NY, USA. Close ), buff to yellow-brown marked with black, sepia, brown and pale purple, size 36·2–44 mm × 26–31·4 mm (nominate) or 34·5–39 mm × 26·5–27·5 mm (demissus), mass c. 17 g (11 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK, and New York, NY, USA. Close ); laying interval one day; double-brooded; incubation 21–32 days (10 Brown, M. and Brown, K. (2004). Nest defence in Crowned Lapwings (Vanellus coronatus) — influences of nesting stage and ambient temperature. Ostrich. 75(3): 162–164. Close ), by both adults, probably starting with first egg (11 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK, and New York, NY, USA. Close ); chick has upperparts deep buff blotched black, underparts  and hindneck white, mass 10·5–13·9 on hatching (12 Tjørve, K.M.C., Underhill, L.G. and Visser, G.H. (2008). The energetic implications of precocial development for three shorebird species breeding in a warm environment. Ibis. 150(1): 125–138 Close ); fledging takes > 1 month (e.g. 35 days in one study) (12 Tjørve, K.M.C., Underhill, L.G. and Visser, G.H. (2008). The energetic implications of precocial development for three shorebird species breeding in a warm environment. Ibis. 150(1): 125–138 Close ). Several families aggregate, even when young still unable to fly. Hatching success 54% in Zimbabwe, 88% in South Africa; fledging success c. 31% in South Africa. Nests frequently destroyed by brush fires; young often taken by predators (suspected to include snakes, raptors, crows, jackals, lizards, domestic dogs and mongooses) (11 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK, and New York, NY, USA. Close , 10 Brown, M. and Brown, K. (2004). Nest defence in Crowned Lapwings (Vanellus coronatus) — influences of nesting stage and ambient temperature. Ostrich. 75(3): 162–164. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Nominate race estimated to number 400,000–900,000 individuals (13 Delaney, S. and D. Scott, Editors (2002). Waterbird Population Estimates. Third edition. Wetlands International Global Series No. 12. Wageningen, the Netherlands. Close ); rather common and widespread throughout extensive range. Deforestation potentially benefits the species, but is scarce in Malawi (despite being common in neighbouring Zambia) (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ) and shows no sign of increasing there, perhaps due to competition with V. lugubris (4 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Common and widespread in Somalia. Numbers in the W Cape may have decreased, as V. armatus invades habitat of present species.