Vanellus melanopterus (Cretzschmar, 1829)

Plumage and Markings

This lapwing has a black breast band that divides its grey head and neck from its white underside. Its wing coverts are brown. It has a variable but prominent white patch on the forehead, a feature it shares with its close relative the Senegal lapwing.

Flight and Habitat Differences

Unlike the Senegal lapwing, this species shows a prominent white wingbar when in flight, bordered by black remiges. The two species also differ in their habitat preferences: the Senegal lapwing prefers lower, mostly drier locations.

Primary Diet

Black-winged lapwings hunt termites on the ground, and termites make up a large part of their diet. They also eat tenebrionid beetles and ants. In captivity, they prefer eating earthworms and mealworms.

Feeding Territory Behavior

Small groups of these birds defend feeding territories smaller than one hectare. Newly established territories are defended most aggressively, through vocal and visual threat displays or aerial mobbing. When there is plenty of available habitat, large groups form non-territorial flocks instead.