About the Blacksmith Lapwing
The blacksmith lapwing or blacksmith plover is a lapwing species that occurs commonly from Kenya through central Tanzania to southern and southwestern Africa. The vernacular name derives from the repeated metallic 'tink, tink, tink' alarm call, which suggests a blacksmith's hammer striking an anvil.
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ID tip
Blacksmith lapwings are very boldly patterned in black, grey and white, possibly warning colours to predators. It is one of five lapwing species (two African, one Asian and two Neotropical) that share the characteristics of red eyes and a bold pied plumage, with a carpal (wing) spur adorning the wrist joint; a sharp black protrusion which they use to aggressively defend their young from potential threats, through persistent aerial dives typically targeting the head.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United Arab Emirates.
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Crowned LapwingVanellus coronatusThe crowned lapwing is easily recognized by its combination of brown and white colours, with most tellingly, a black crown intersected by an annular white halo.
Spur-winged LapwingVanellus spinosusThe spur-winged lapwing is a medium-large wader with a black crown, chest, foreneck stripe and tail.
African Wattled LapwingVanellus senegallusThe African wattled lapwing, also known as the Senegal wattled plover or simply wattled lapwing, is a large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae.
Side by side: Blacksmith Lapwing vs Southern Lapwing · Blacksmith Lapwing vs Masked Lapwing · Blacksmith Lapwing vs Red-wattled Lapwing · Blacksmith Lapwing vs Crowned Lapwing · Blacksmith Lapwing vs Spur-winged Lapwing
Learn the Blacksmith Lapwing for real
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