Black-winged Lapwing
Black-winged LapwingBlack-winged LapwingBlack-winged LapwingBlack-winged Lapwing

Black-winged Lapwing

Vanellus melanopterus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Masai Mara National Reserve
655 Verified records at Masai Mara National Reserve
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The black-winged lapwing. black-winged plover or greater black-winged lapwing (Vanellus melanopterus) is an east African species that is found from the Ethiopian highlands in the north to central Kenya (race V. m. melanopterus), and again at middle to coastal elevations in eastern South Africa (race V. m. minor). It is a habitat specialist of short grass in well-watered temperate grasslands. They may move about locally to find ideal situations, often at night. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Black-winged Lapwing sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 655 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

50–60% · Likely
African Wattled Lapwing
LC

African Wattled Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus senegallus

30–40% · Possible
Spur-winged Lapwing
LC

Spur-winged Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus spinosus

30–40% · Possible
Senegal Lapwing
LC

Senegal Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus lugubris

5–10% · With luck
Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

5–10% · With luck
Long-toed Lapwing
LC

Long-toed Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus crassirostris

<5% · Rare
Caspian Plover
LC

Caspian Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius asiaticus

<5% · Rare
Common Ringed Plover
LC

Common Ringed Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius hiaticula

<5% · Rare
Temminck's Courser
LC

Temminck's Courser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cursorius temminckii

20–30% · Possible
Common Sandpiper
LC

Common Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis hypoleucos

20–30% · Possible
African Jacana
LC

African Jacana

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actophilornis africanus

10–20% · With luck
Wood Sandpiper
LC

Wood Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa glareola

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
30–40
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
2 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
3 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
4 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
5 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
5–10%
6 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
7 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
8 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
9 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
10 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
11 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
12 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
13 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
14 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
15 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black-winged Lapwing in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 23% of wildlife watchers report a Black-winged Lapwing sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 655 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black-winged Lapwing in Masai Mara National Reserve?

November has the highest sighting rate for Black-winged Lapwing in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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