A bird of open areas near water. Small, spur-like projections on its wings give it its English name.
It has small, spur-like projections on its wings, which give the species its English name.
It walks in open wet places, such as around lakes and salt lakes, stopping suddenly every few steps to pick up invertebrates and seeds. It calls loudly when there is a threat near its nest or chicks.
The nest is a shallow scrape on dry bare ground, sometimes rimmed with pebbles or debris. The 2–4 eggs are cream to clay-coloured and are incubated by both parents for 22–24 days.
Both parents care for the chicks. When another clutch is laid, the female may incubate while the male tends the older chicks.
The crown, throat and much of the underparts are black, contrasting with white cheeks and neck sides. In juveniles the dark areas are brown with white flecks, and upperpart feathers have broad buff edges.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.