Blacksmith Lapwing
Blacksmith LapwingBlacksmith LapwingBlacksmith LapwingBlacksmith Lapwing

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Silhouette: Rebecca Groom · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Garden Route National Park
614 Verified sightings at Garden Route National Park From 2019 to 2026
29,068 Verified sightings across all 39 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Blacksmith Lapwing

The blacksmith lapwing or blacksmith plover (Vanellus armatus) is a lapwing species that occurs commonly from Kenya through central Tanzania to southern and southwestern Africa. The vernacular name derives from the repeated metallic 'tink, tink, tink' alarm call, which suggests a blacksmith's hammer striking an anvil.

Blacksmith lapwings are very boldly patterned in black, grey and white, possibly warning colours to predators. It is one of five lapwing species (two African, one Asian and two Neotropical) that share the characteristics of red eyes and a bold pied plumage, with a carpal (wing) spur adorning the wrist joint; a sharp black protrusion which they use to aggressively defend their young from potential threats, through persistent aerial dives typically targeting the head. The portions of the bird's body bare to plumage average a black coloration for the bill, and either a black or white-grey dappling on the legs. Females average larger and heavier but the sexes are generally alike.

The blacksmith lapwing occurs in association with wetlands of all sizes. Even very small damp areas caused by a spilling water trough can attract them.... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Garden Route National Park

Black-winged Lapwing
LC

Black-winged Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus melanopterus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Ringed Plover
LC

Common Ringed Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius hiaticula

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Black-bellied Plover
VU

Black-bellied Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvialis squatarola

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Greater Sandplover
LC

Greater Sandplover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius leschenaultii

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
American Golden-Plover
LC

American Golden-Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvialis dominica

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
African Black Oystercatcher
LC

African Black Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus moquini

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Black-winged Stilt
LC

Black-winged Stilt

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Himantopus himantopus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Crested Tern
LC

Crested Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thalasseus bergii

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Common Greenshank
LC

Common Greenshank

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa nebularia

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~80%
2 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~80%
3 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~80%
4 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~80%
5 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~70%
6 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~70%
7 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~70%
8 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~70%
9 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~60%
10 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~60%
11 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~60%
12 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~50%
13 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~40%
14 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~40%
15 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
16 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
17 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~40%
18 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
19 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
20 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
21 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
22 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
23 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~30%
24 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
25 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
26 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
27 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
28 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
29 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
30 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
31 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
32 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
33 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
34 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
35 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~10%
36 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
37 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
38 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
39 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Blacksmith Lapwing in Garden Route National Park?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Blacksmith Lapwing sighting in Garden Route National Park, based on 614 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Blacksmith Lapwing in Garden Route National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Blacksmith Lapwing in Garden Route National Park in our monthly data.

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