Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - Plovers

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
Plovers
Page 16

There are eleven species of plovers found in the Serengeti-Mara. This book looks at only three: the African wattled plover, blacksmith plover and the crowned plover. Plovers are shorebirds with straight bills that are flat at the base. Parent birds often feign an injury in order to lead a predator away from the nest. Worldwide, there are 64 species, 27 of which occur in Africa.

African Wattled Plover
Vanellus senegallus

Length: 35 cm (14")

Status: Common

Habitat: Wattled plovers are found at altitudes up to 2 250 meters (7,380 feet). They prefer short grassy areas near water.

Food: Wattled plovers eat grasshoppers, locusts, dung beetles, crickets, aquatic insects and seeds.

Social System/Behavior: Pairs of these birds will stand their ground and try to frighten off intruders that threaten their nests. They will even spread their wings in an attempt to divert a herd of migrating wildebeest.

The female lays three to four eggs in a scrape in mud near water. The young are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching.

The mated pair will actively defend their territory and chase off rival birds.

Predators: Jackals, servals, caracals, snakes, monitor lizards and birds of prey all feed on this species.

Due to its habit of nesting near water, many eggs are broken by hoofed animals.

Select a Page:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50