Crowned Plover

The Crowned Plover (Vanellus coronatus), or Crowned Lapwing, is a bird species found in dry habitats of northeastern, eastern and southern Africa. They are adapted to short and dry grasslands, but occasionally can be seen in areas with a higher rainfall. However, in contrast to other lapwing species, the birds avoid wetlands. The birds live mostly on the ground where they search for prey consisting mostly of insects (e.g., termites). I have seen and photographed these interesting birds in the Etosha National Park in northern Namibia during a journey in February 2007.