Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus Scientific name definitions

25–28 cm; 127–177 g; wingspan 69–81 cm. Crown , forehead and throat black, cheeks and sides of neck white ; slight crest not normally apparent ; breast , upper belly and flanks black; dark red eyes , black spurs . Differs from wholly allopatric (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ) V. duvaucelii most clearly by extensive black on underparts and shorter crest (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ), while although both V. armatus and V. crassirostris (which overlap with present species in Africa) have pied head patterns, they also have obvious white (not black) crowns (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female as male, but spurs shorter (5–10 mm versus 8–12 mm in males) (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ) and tends to have slightly browner irides (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ). No seasonal variation. Juvenile (distinguishable in the field until c. Oct) (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ) has black parts of plumage brownish, speckled with white; feathers of upperparts have broad buff fringes.

E Mediterranean and Middle East to SW Iran (3 Ayé, R. Salmanzadeh, R. (2007). The status of Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus in Iran - with first evidence of breeding. Podoces. 2(2): 151–153. Close ), and in Africa up R Nile to C & S Sudan; also S of Sahara from S Mauritania and Senegal through Nigeria to Ethiopia and Somalia, and S to Uganda, Kenya and N & E Tanzania, perhaps spreading to N Zambia (4 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium Close ).

Usually on dry ground, but rarely far from water. Inhabits great variety of habitats, including cultivated fields or (burnt) grassland, near pools , lakes, rivers or lagoons, on mudflats, sandflats, sodaflats, rice fields, flooded fields, beaches and dunes. Sometimes in ponds and marshes.

In Africa resident, locally making erratic movements; in places moves into drier areas during rainy season, but leaves driest areas; in general, not very sensitive to seasonal water level changes; local numbers can vary seasonally due to movements. Egyptian population resident. Perhaps local migration in E Africa, with records S to C Tanzania (previously considered to be wanderers, although species is now known to breed in the country) (5 Anon. (1994). The Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus in Tanzania. Scopus. 18: 130–131. Close ), Congo-Brazzaville (6 Demey, R. (2015). Recent reports. Bulletin of African Bird Club 22(2):236–252. Close ), N Zambia (7 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), Zimbabwe (8 Johnson, C. (2004). First Zimbabwean record of Spur-winged Lapwing. Honeyguide. 50(2): 185–186. Close , 9 Varden, J. (2005). Spur-winged Lapwing in Mana Pools National Park: a second sighting for Zimbabwe. Honeyguide. 51(1): 33–34. Close , 10 Riddell, I.C. (2007). Changes to the Zimbabwean bird list since 19847. Honeyguide. 53(1–2): 41–52. Close ) Ornithological Note , Namibia Ornithological Note , Botswana (11 Tyler, S. J., R. D. Randall, and C. A. Brewster (2008). New bird records for Botswana and additional information on some rarities. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 15(1):36–52. Close ), and even NE Cape Province, South Africa (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ). Has also wandered to Cape Verde Is (Apr 2011) (12 Hazevoet, C. J. (2003). Fifth report on birds from the Cape Verde Islands, including records of 15 taxa new to the archipelago. Arquivos do Museu Bocage (Nova Série) 3(19):503–528. Close ) and Príncipe (Mar 2012) (13 Valle, S. and Patacho, M. (2014). First record of Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus for São Tomé and Príncipe. Bull. African Bird Club. 21(1): 87–88. Close ). Populations of Greece and Turkey arrive in mid-Mar (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ) and migrate S in Oct, passing through Cyprus and Crete (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ), but main destinations unclear; some birds to Red Sea coast and presumably elsewhere in Africa, with recent record from Libya (14 Hering, J. (2012). First record of Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus for Libya. Bull. African Bird Club. 19(1): 71–72. Close ). Has also occurred W to Europe, in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France (15 van den Berg, A.B. and Haas, M. (2014). WP reports. Dutch Birding. 36(5): 340–350. Close ), Hungary, Italy, Malta, Romania, Spain and the former Yugoslavia, as well as N to Odessa, Ukraine (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ), but records from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and UK are considered to refer to escapes (16 Gantlett, S. (1997). The Spur-winged Plover in Kent – a new British bird? Birding World. 10(6): 217–219. Close ). Middle East population probably dispersive or resident, with records beyond usual range in Kuwait (17 Ramadan-Jaradi, G. and Bara, T (2009). First confirmed breeding record of Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus for Lebanon, 2110410411041046. Sandgrouse. 31(1): 55–56. Close ), Oman (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ) and United Arab Emirates (17 Ramadan-Jaradi, G. and Bara, T (2009). First confirmed breeding record of Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus for Lebanon, 2110410411041046. Sandgrouse. 31(1): 55–56. Close ); In non-breeding season occurs in flocks of up to 15 birds, maximum 200.

Feeds mainly on insects and their larvae, especially beetles; also grasshoppers, flies, midges, termites, ants, spiders, myriapods; occasionally, crustaceans, molluscs, small lizards, tadpoles and adult frogs, fish and seeds. Feeding action generally slow and deliberate (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ): takes few rapid steps followed by stabbing at prey; also flushes prey by foot-trembling.

Noisy alarm calls reminiscent of those of V. armatus, a sharp metallic “pitt” or “tick”, while territorial calls are loud and rhythmic, “did-ye-do-it” or “ti-ti-ter-el”, which have been likened to those of V. indicus, albeit less raucous and more measured; often vocalizes at night (1 Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater (1986). Shorebirds. An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm, London, UK. Close ).

In tropical Africa, laying dates usually locally restricted, but considerable geographical variation; Israel Mar–Sept (18 Yogev, A., Ar, A. and Yom-Tov, Y. (1996). Determination of clutch size and the breeding bology of the Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus) in Israel. Auk. 113(1): 68–73. Close ); Turkey early Apr–late Jun (19 Kirwan, G. M., K. A. Boyla, P. Castell, B. Demirci, M. Özen, H. Welch, and T. Marlow (2008). The Birds of Turkey: The Distribution, Taxonomy and Breeding of Turkish Birds. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); Greece late Apr–May. Monogamous. Nests solitarily, e.g. one pair per 2·6 ha in Greece (20 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ), or in loose colonies, e.g. 30 nests on single sandspit in Egypt (20 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ). Territory aggressively defended against most other bird species, especially waders; conspecifics often tolerated in territory; territory sometimes occupied year-round. Nest on bare, dry ground, usually a shallow scrape, unlined or lined with grass or other plant material and debris, or with a rim of earth, small shells or stones; alternatively, natural depression in rock lined with pebbles; nest on mud sometimes more substantial, with grass and reed stems. Typically lays 2–4 cream to clay-coloured eggs densely spotted black, sepia or lilac (20 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ) (mean 3·4 eggs in C Israel) (18 Yogev, A., Ar, A. and Yom-Tov, Y. (1996). Determination of clutch size and the breeding bology of the Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus) in Israel. Auk. 113(1): 68–73. Close ), but up to five, size 33·9–43 × 22·2–29 mm (20 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ), mass 35–40·7 g (21 Al-Safadi, M. M. (2006). Observations on the breeding birds of the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Sandgrouse 28(1):22–33. Close ); laid at variable intervals of 1&ndash2 days or more; often lays second clutch, and sometimes third (or replacements) (18 Yogev, A., Ar, A. and Yom-Tov, Y. (1996). Determination of clutch size and the breeding bology of the Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus) in Israel. Auk. 113(1): 68–73. Close ); incubation (partially commences with first egg) (20 Urban, E. K., C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors (1986). The Birds of Africa. Volume 2. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ) 22–24 days (Europe, but mean 28 days in Israel) (18 Yogev, A., Ar, A. and Yom-Tov, Y. (1996). Determination of clutch size and the breeding bology of the Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus) in Israel. Auk. 113(1): 68–73. Close ) and hatching asynchronous (18 Yogev, A., Ar, A. and Yom-Tov, Y. (1996). Determination of clutch size and the breeding bology of the Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus) in Israel. Auk. 113(1): 68–73. Close ); both parents incubate and tend chicks, but in case of second clutch, incubation by female while male tends chicks of first clutch; chick cinnamon-buff above, mottled grey and streaked black, with cheeks buff and hindneck white, lacks hind toe; fledging 7–8 weeks, before which female may carry young under its wings (22 Falzone, C.K. (1992). First observations of chick carrying behavior by the Buff-crested Bustard. Wilson Bull.. 104(1): 190–192. Close ). Immatures independent soon after fledging, but sometimes stay with parents until next breeding season. Nests and eggs often trampled by cattle and ungulates, while Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix) are important predators of eggs in some regions; if first egg of a clutch is taken the birds abandon the breeding attempt (23 Yogev, A. and Yom-Tov, Y. (1996). Indeterminacy in a determinate layer: the Spur-winged Plover. Condor. 98(4): 858. Close ). In C Israel, in four-egg clutches incubation temperature significantly higher, incubation periods usually shorter (but not significantly), and hatching success higher (but again not significantly) (18 Yogev, A., Ar, A. and Yom-Tov, Y. (1996). Determination of clutch size and the breeding bology of the Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus) in Israel. Auk. 113(1): 68–73. Close ). Fledging success in Israel c. 2 young per brood.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Probably 25,000–100,000 birds in SE Europe, SW Asia and Egypt (3 Ayé, R. Salmanzadeh, R. (2007). The status of Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus in Iran - with first evidence of breeding. Podoces. 2(2): 151–153. Close ). No population estimate available for rest of Africa, but 1000–5000 birds in Sudan and considered very common in Mali (although estimate of 50,000–70,000 birds regarded as over-optimistic) (24 Girard, O., Niagaté, B., Thal, J. and Boutin, J.M. (2009). Les limicoles au Mali, en particulier dans le Delta interieur du Niger. Malimbus. 31(1): 1–19. Close ); a common bird in Israel, where 1550 birds, probably more, wintered between 1975 and 1983. Numbers have increased notably in Egypt and Israel since 1960s (e.g., five-fold increase in numbers around Gaza Strip between 1996 and 2003) (21 Al-Safadi, M. M. (2006). Observations on the breeding birds of the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Sandgrouse 28(1):22–33. Close ); at least in Israel, due to new irrigation fields, reservoirs, sewage farms and control of long vegetation bordering fish ponds. Formerly considered a rare passage migrant in Lebanon, but is now common and has bred since at least 2006 (17 Ramadan-Jaradi, G. and Bara, T (2009). First confirmed breeding record of Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus for Lebanon, 2110410411041046. Sandgrouse. 31(1): 55–56. Close ), while in SW Iran it was regarded as a scarce winter visitor but has also recently been discovered probably breeding (3 Ayé, R. Salmanzadeh, R. (2007). The status of Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus in Iran - with first evidence of breeding. Podoces. 2(2): 151–153. Close ). V. spinosus is also increasing locally in Arabia, e.g. around Riyadh, where first found in 1984 and is now breeding (25 Jennings, M. C. (2004). Breeding birds in central Arabia, 1978–2003. Sandgrouse 26(1):35–47. Close ), but is apparently declining in Turkey, due to wetland drainage, although it has spread further E in recent decades (19 Kirwan, G. M., K. A. Boyla, P. Castell, B. Demirci, M. Özen, H. Welch, and T. Marlow (2008). The Birds of Turkey: The Distribution, Taxonomy and Breeding of Turkish Birds. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Species endangered in Europe; first noted breeding in Greece in 1959; but numbers decreased from 120–170 breeding pairs in 1970 to 32–45 pairs in 1993, due to loss of natural or semi-natural wetland habitat of saltmarshes. Recently increased in Cyprus, where 10 pairs estimated in 2003 and 61–68 pairs in 2009 (26 Charalambidou, I., Kassinis, N., Gűcel, S. and Fuller, W. (2012). The status and breeding population of the Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus in Cyprus. Podoces. 7(1/2): 1–8. Close ). Approximately 5000–15,000 birds occur in Egypt in winter. Locally exposed to hunting pressure, even in Israel, where wildlife protection laws are strong, in this case by guest workers, chiefly from Thailand (27 Yom-Tov, Y. (2003). Poaching of Israeli wildlife by guest workers. Biological Conservation 110(1):11–20. Close ).