Blacksmith Lapwing or Blacksmith Plover

Afrikaans name: Bontkiewiet

Photo © Steven Herbert

Vanellus armatus

The call of the Blacksmith Lapwing, also known as a Blacksmith Plover, sounds like the noise of a blacksmiths hammer and gives them their common name.

They are normally encountered in pairs or small groups.

Their preferred habitat is wetland of a variety of types.

As man has developed more dams the numbers of these birds has increased. They are also found in areas of the country where they weren't found previously.

The Blacksmith Lapwing can be quite aggressive and will fly at and around intruders in its territory.

They feed on insects, molluscs, worms and crustaceans.

The nest is made in short grass normally near water.

During the breeding season they are normally found in pairs but may occur in small flocks at other times.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	245	Hoplopterus armatus
2nd	245	Hoplopterus armatus
3rd	245	Hoplopterus armatus
4th	245	Hoplopterus armatus
5th	258	Vanellus armatus
6th	258	Vanellus armatus
7th	291	Vanellus armatus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	245	Blacksmith Plover
2nd	245	Blacksmith Plover
3rd	245	Blacksmith Plover
4th	245	Blacksmith Plover
5th	258	Blacksmith Plover
6th	258	Blacksmith Plover
7th	291	Blacksmith Lapwing

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	245	Swart-kiewietjie
2nd	245	Bontkiewietjie
3rd	245	Bontkiewietjie
4th	245	Bontkiewietjie
5th	258	Bontkiewiet
6th	258	Bontkiewiet
7th	291	Bontkiewiet

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 43

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 84

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 38

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 148

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 47

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 17

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 103

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 139

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 149

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 168

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Published: 1986 - Page: 260

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 166

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 231

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 229

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 175

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 169

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 122

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 122

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 133

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 410

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 116

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 122

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 180

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 60

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 86

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 28

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 31

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 30

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 57

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 92

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 86

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 34

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 42

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 112

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 76

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 142

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 142

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 115

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds