Crowned Plover - Vanellus armatus

Plovers are common residents to southern Africa and Namibia. 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. It occurs throughout southern Africa, apart from the most arid areas of southern Namibia and the Northern Cape

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.

Lodges and Camps in Namibia: Beach Lodge - Casa Piccolo - Mahangu Safari Lodge - Mazambala - Oase Guest House - Phantom Farmhouse - The Desert Homestead

Botswana Destinations: Chobe National Park

Zimbabwe Destinations: Victoria Falls

Mammals of Namibia: African Wild Dog - African Elephant - Cheetah - Giraffe - Hartebeest - Hippo - Leopard - Lion - Red Lechwe - Roan Antelope - Sitatunga -Spotted Hyena - Springbok - Wildebeest - Zebra

Birds of Namibia: Blue Waxbill - Cormorants - Crowned Plover - Darter - Egyptian Goose - Fish Eagle - Flamingos - Grey Lourie - Kingfisher - Kori Bustard - Ostrich - Saddlebilled Stork - Secretary Bird