Senegal Lapwing
Senegal LapwingSenegal LapwingSenegal LapwingSenegal Lapwing

Senegal Lapwing

Vanellus lugubris

Silhouette: Rebecca Groom · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Masai Mara National Reserve
285 Verified sightings at Masai Mara National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
2,784 Verified sightings across all 25 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Senegal Lapwing

The African wattled lapwing (Vanellus senegallus) is sometimes called Senegal wattled plover. The Senegal lapwing, lesser black-winged lapwing or lesser black-winged plover (Vanellus lugubris) is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae. It is found in the African countries of Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It lives primarily in open grassy habitats.

Senegal lapwing - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
African Wattled Lapwing
LC

African Wattled Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus senegallus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Spur-winged Lapwing
LC

Spur-winged Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus spinosus

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

Black-winged Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus melanopterus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Long-toed Lapwing
LC

Long-toed Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus crassirostris

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Caspian Plover
LC

Caspian Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius asiaticus

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

Common Ringed Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius hiaticula

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Temminck's Courser
LC

Temminck's Courser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cursorius temminckii

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Common Sandpiper
LC

Common Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis hypoleucos

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
African Jacana
LC

African Jacana

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actophilornis africanus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Wood Sandpiper
LC

Wood Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa glareola

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 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
2 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
3 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~20%
4 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~20%
5 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~10%
6 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
7 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
8 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
9 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
10 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
11 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
12 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
13 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
14 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
15 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
16 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
17 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
18 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
19 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
20 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
21 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
22 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
23 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
24 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
25 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Senegal Lapwing in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Senegal Lapwing sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 285 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Senegal Lapwing in Masai Mara National Reserve?

February has the highest sighting rate for Senegal Lapwing in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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