Black-headed Lapwing
Vanellus tectus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Caradriformes)
- FamilyCharadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
- GenusVanellus (Lapwings)
- SpeciesVanellus tectus (Black-headed Lapwing)
The black-headed lapwing or black-headed plover (Vanellus tectus) is a large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. It is a resident breeder across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, although it has seasonal movements. It lays two or three eggs on a ground scrape. These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are medium-large waders with a black head other than a white forehead, lower face and bands across the rear head and nape. There is a wispy black crest like northern lapwing and the bill and legs are red. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Lapwing sighting in Tsavo West National Park, based on 86 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tsavo West National Park
Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus
Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus armatus
Spur-winged Lapwing
Vanellus spinosus
Senegal Lapwing
Vanellus lugubris
Long-toed Lapwing
Vanellus crassirostris
Common Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
Caspian Plover
Charadrius asiaticus
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Water Thick-knee
Burhinus vermiculatus
African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 2 | Meru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 3 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 4 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 5 | Niokolo-Koba National Park | 🇸🇳 Senegal | |
| 6 | Awash National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 7 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 8 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 9 | Mkomazi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 10 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 11 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 12 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 13 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black-headed Lapwing in Tsavo West National Park?
About 8% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Lapwing sighting in Tsavo West National Park, based on 86 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black-headed Lapwing in Tsavo West National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Black-headed Lapwing in Tsavo West National Park in our monthly data.