Vanellus coronatus
The Crowned Lapwing inhabits dry, open habitats like pastures, short grassy savannas, open patches in bushveld, shrublands, semi-deserts and cultivated fields, golf courses and sports fields, avoiding areas where the grass is any taller than 60mm. It is especially fond of overgrazed or recently burnt areas. They feed on insects, especially termites, and other invertebrates.
Outside of the breeding season, Crowned Lapwings come together in loosely associated flocks, usually numbering between 10 and 40 though occasionally as many as 150 individuals, and often associate with the closely related Blacksmith Lapwing. Crowned Lapwings pair for life. They prefer to nest in shallow scrapes on the ground, among newly sprouting grass following veld fires and often in the shade of trees. The nest is further camouflaged with little stones, dry dung, dried grass, etc. In areas with high density, nests are spaced between 25 and 50m apart. Spring is the peak breeding season although some pairs may nest throughout the year. Females are mainly responsible for incubating the eggs, of which there are 2 to 4 in a clutch, though the males will take over for short periods in hot weather. The chicks leave the nest within hours of hatching, walking around and searching for food with their parents. They fledge at about 4 weeks old but often stay with their parents until the start of the next breeding season.
Crowned Lapwings can live up to 20 years of age and weigh on average around 185g.
The IUCN considers the Crowned Lapwing of least concern – it has an increasing population (thanks in no small part to human modification of the environment) and wide distribution over East and Southern Africa. It is found in high densities in all South African provinces.
DeWetsWild 
Great shots of a beautiful bird, de Wets. Love the markings.
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Thanks very much, Jane!
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‘n Gunsteling
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Daar is seker n paar van hulle op die oord se grasperke, of hoe Tina?
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Ons het nog heelwat veld en hulle maar meer daar maar mens hoor hulle en sien hulle as ons gaan stap
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Beautiful bird. I thought all lapwings was wading birds, maybe something I just believe because “ours” we have here in Sweden, northern lapwing, is a wader. Maybe the evolution have made it to go from wetlands to dryer land where they eat termites? They have long legs as a wader. Northern lapwing is also the only lapwings we have here, and it come here already in February, then it can be -10°C or colder.
Good photos, as usual. It’s always so nice to see the details of the birds, do not know how to do it, not often I do.
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You make a very interesting point, John, in that it seems quite plausible that some lapwings evolved to exploit drier habitats others of their kind couldn’t. I think we see a similar situation in the kingfishers, where many kinds are not dependent on watery habitats for their livelihoods.
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