Blacksmith Lapwing
Blacksmith LapwingBlacksmith LapwingBlacksmith LapwingBlacksmith Lapwing

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Silhouette: Rebecca Groom · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Mkomazi National Park
24 Verified sightings at Mkomazi National Park From 2019 to 2026
29,068 Verified sightings across all 39 parks From 2019 to 2026
June 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 Mkomazi National Park

Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Spur-winged Lapwing
LC

Spur-winged Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus spinosus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Black-headed Lapwing
LC

Black-headed Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus tectus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Black-winged Lapwing
LC

Black-winged Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus melanopterus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Senegal Lapwing
LC

Senegal Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus lugubris

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Wood Sandpiper
LC

Wood Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa glareola

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Common Sandpiper
LC

Common Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis hypoleucos

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Buttonquail
LC

Common Buttonquail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turnix sylvaticus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Jacana
LC

African Jacana

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actophilornis africanus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Green Sandpiper
LC

Green Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa ochropus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Water Thick-knee
LC

Water Thick-knee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Burhinus vermiculatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
White-winged Tern
LC

White-winged Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chlidonias leucopterus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

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 Mkomazi National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Blacksmith Lapwing sighting in Mkomazi National Park, based on 24 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

June has the highest sighting rate for Blacksmith Lapwing in Mkomazi National Park in our monthly data.

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