paddavanger, noun

/ˈpadaˌfaŋə(r)/
Forms:
Also paddafanger.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, padda frog, toad + vanger catcher.
The hammerkop, Scopus umbretta.
1902 ‘X.C.’ Everyday Life in Cape Col. 42The crane put in a claim for high flying, also the padderfanger, and the owl too.
1909 The Cape 23 Apr. 13The eccentric nest of that eccentric bird the hammerkop — a paddavanger as it is sometimes called.
1923 Haagner & Ivy Sketches of S. Afr. Bird-Life 139The Hammerhead (Scopus umbretta), usually called the Hammerkop or Paddavanger (Frog-catcher) by the South African.
1937 Guide to Vertebrate Fauna of E. Cape Prov. (Albany Museum) II.Index, Paddavanger — Hammerkop.
[1965 W. Plomer Turbott Wolfe 155They used to call him Paddafanger, from that odd clucking noise he made when he was trying to get a word out.]
1967 Some Protected Birds of Cape Prov. (Dept of Nature Conservation) 11Hamerkop, paddavanger, Scopus umbretta...A common bird on open shallow water...Builds a large dome-shaped nest of sticks and twigs.
1979 E. Prov. Herald 5 Nov. 9Those tadpoles..turn into frogs but they..have to look out for such predators as herons, fish, kingfishers, padda-vangers.
The hammerkop, Scopus umbretta.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19021979

Browse Related Words

By Category

Birds

By Origin

Afrikaans
padda, nounn.padkos, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English