Crowned Plover - Vanellus armatus
Plovers are common residents to southern
Africa. The crowned plover is distinguished by a white circle surrounding
a black cap, plus mainly red bill and red legs; the eyes are usually
pale yellow, sometimes dark brown.
Plovers can be very noisy at times,
calling 'kie-weeet' on the ground or a repeated, shrill 'kree-kree-kreeip-kreeip...'
in flight, day or night. Pairs and groups occur on dry, open ground,
areas of short or burnt grass, on airfield and road verges.
Both the male and the female take turns
to sit on the nest during the incubation period of 30 days. The
fledgling period, when birds are dependent on the parents, lasts
40 days. Anyone who knows the crowned plover will acknowledge this
characteristic of one of Africa's least frightened creatures, whose
small size makes its courage that much more admirable.
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