Spur-winged lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) (Linnaeus, 1758) Αγκαθοκαλημάνα, ΠελλοκατερΊνα - Cyprus

Η Πελλοκατερίνα φωλιάζει μόνο σε Κύπρο και Ελλάδα από τις χώρες της ΕΕ; Το χειμώνα του 2014 καταγράφηκε στη Λίμνη Ορόκλινης, ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα κοπάδια Πελλοκατερίνας με 85 πουλιά, χάρη στην αποκατάσταση και τη σωστή διαχείριση του υγροτόπου!

The spur-winged lapwing breeds around the eastern Mediterranean, and in a wide band from sub-Saharan west Africa to Arabia. The Greek and Turkish breeders are migratory, but other populations are resident. The species is declining in its northern range, but is abundant in much of tropical Africa, being seen at almost any wetland habitat in its range. The spur-winged lapwing is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are medium-large waders with black crown, chest, foreneck stripe and tail. The face, the rest of the neck and belly are white and the wings and back are light brown. The bill and legs are black. Its striking appearance is supplemented by its noisy nature, with a loud did-he-do-it call. The bird's common name refers to a small claw or spur hidden in each of its wings.

                                                                                                            

This species has a preference for marshes and similar freshwater wetland habitats. The food of the spur-winged lapwing is insects and other invertebrates, which are picked from the ground.

It lays 3-4 blotchy yellowish eggs on a ground scrape. The spur-winged lapwing is known to sometimes use the wing-claws in an attack on animals and, rarely, people, who get too close to the birds' exposed off spring

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 Photos Amochostos Kouklia 13/7/2015 by George Konstantinou

Juvenile Vanellus spinosus