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Photo: Chris Eason from London · CC BY 2.0 · source ↗
White-crowned Lapwing
Witkopkiewiet · Vanellus albiceps
A striking lapwing tied to big sandy rivers, pale grey-brown with a bold white crown-stripe, a yellow bill and long yellow facial wattles. It nests right on river sandbanks and defends them fiercely, helped by sharp spurs on its wings. Pairs are usually seen patrolling the same stretch of river.
Log your White-crowned Lapwing sighting — free →How to identify it
A pale grey-brown lapwing with a white crown stripe, yellow bill and long yellow wattles, almost always on river sandbanks.
Listen for its call
A loud, fast 'kik-kik-kik' rattle, very vocal along sandy river edges.
Where to see it in Kruger
Sticks closely to sandbars and gravel banks of the larger rivers like the Letaba and Olifants.
Did you know
It has sharp little spurs on the bends of its wings that it uses like swords to defend its nest.
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