Crowned Lapwing / Crowned Plover

Afrikaans name: Kroonkiewiet

Photo © Steven Herbert

Vanellus coronatus

The Crowned Lapwing is also known as the Crowned Plover. This is a very common bird which is found across virtually the whole of South Africa. It is also widespread across the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.

This Lapwing can be found in drier grasslands and in most other places with sparse vegetation. It can often be seen in areas of short-grass on roadside verges. They make their presence known as they call regularly and chase íntruders' off their territory.

Male and female are similar in looks. They grow to a length of about 30 cm.

Crowned Lapwings mainly feed on insects from termites through to grasshoppers.

A simple nest is made on the ground. It may be surrounded by pebbles or bits of vegetation.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	242	Stephanibyx coronatus coronatus
2nd	242	Stephanibyx coronatus
3rd	242	Stephanibyx coronatus
4th	242	Stephanibyx coronatus
5th	255	Vanellus coronatus
6th	255	Vanellus coronatus
7th	297	Vanellus coronatus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	242	Crowned Plover
2nd	242	Crowned Plover
3rd	242	Crowned Plover
4th	242	Crowned Plover
5th	255	Crowned Plover
6th	255	Crowned Plover
7th	297	Crowned Lapwing

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	242	Gewone-kiewietjie
2nd	242	Kiewietjie
3rd	242	Kiewietjie
4th	242	Kiewietjie
5th	255	Kroonkiewiet
6th	255	Kroonkiewiet
7th	297	Kroonkiewiet

References and further reading

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

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

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

Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2000 - Page: 30

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 152

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

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 16

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 102

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

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 113

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Published: 1986 - Page: 267

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 164

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 170

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 226

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 228

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 173

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 166

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 131

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 124

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 23

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

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

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

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 47

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 179

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 124

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 134

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

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 14

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: 56

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 91

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

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 84

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 111

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

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

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

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 114

BirdLife South Africa

---

Top

List of South African Birds