White crowned lapwing

Introduction: White-crowned lapwings (Vanellus albiceps), also called white-crowned plovers, inhabit sand and mud-banks in large rivers and sometimes along shores of lakes and dams. Flooding attracts them to pans, lagoons and streams. They can be observed singly or in pairs, at times up to 30, perching on logs or rocks on the lookout for intruders.

Distribution: The river basins of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers. Rare observations on the Kavango River have been recorded.

Diet: Forages near water for beetles, wasps, worms, crabs, small fish and frogs.

Description: Albiceps is Latin for 'white-headed'.

Breeding: Between 2 and 4 eggs are laid in a sand scrape near water lined with pebbles and small sticks. Eggs are left unattended whilst both adults sit in the water to bathe before 'belly-wetting' their eggs during the incubation process.

Size: 30cm.

Weight: 200g.