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A photo of a Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)
Spur-winged Lapwing

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

The spur-winged lapwing or spur-winged plover (Vanellus spinosus) is a lapwing species, one of a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. It is one of several species of wader supposed to be the "trochilus" bird said by Herodotus to have been involved in an unattested cleaning symbiosis with the Nile crocodile. These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are medium-large waders with black crown, chest, foreneck stripe and tail. The face, the rest of the neck and belly are white and the wings and back are light brown. The bill and legs are black. Its striking appearance is supplemented by its noisy nature, with a loud did-he-do-it call. The bird's common name refers to a small claw or spur hidden in each of its wings.
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Spur-winged Lapwings on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Victoria Simpson
Victoria Simpson
Wednesday 20 Sep 2023 - 4:55am
Kenya
A map showing the sighting location
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Nabelae Jeanmarkh
Tuesday 19 Sep 2023 - 3:14pm
Uganda
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Victoria Simpson
Victoria Simpson
Tuesday 19 Sep 2023 - 1:54pm
Kenya
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Victoria Simpson
Victoria Simpson
Monday 18 Sep 2023 - 3:44am
Kenya
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