Spur-winged lapwings live in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. They use loud calls to protect their young and keep predators away.
Life of a spur-winged lapwing
Spur-winged lapwings stand about 12 inches tall. They can live to be 17 years old in the wild and even older in human care. They gather in flocks ranging from 15 birds to more than 200!
Spur-winged lapwings often mate for life. During breeding, males make mating calls and do a dance to attract females. They build nests in small holes in the ground lined with vegetation. Females lay two to four eggs that hatch within three weeks. Males share in parenting duties with females. After eight weeks, young spur-winged lapwings are fully independent.
These birds feast on insects, small lizards, amphibians and some small fish. They hunt using their sharp narrow beaks to spear prey. They also stomp their feet to lure prey out of hiding spots.
Spur-winged lapwings are named for the spurs, or little claws, hidden in each wing. They use these spurs to scare away predators, which include larger birds of prey, snakes, and small mammals like jackals.
Spur-winged lapwings at the zoo
Located in the Africa area.
