Page 177 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Charadriidae Species Vanellus vanellus
Lapwing shorter crest than
in summer
green back with
steep buffish feather
broad, rounded forehead edges
wings black cap
MALE extends into
(SUMMER) wispy crest crest shorter than
on male
white
underwings
short bill
flat, dark green
back, glossed ADULT (WINTER)
purple and
reddish IN FLIGHT copper mottled throat
patch
under tail
FEMALE
(SUMMER)
short
crest
buff feather
fringes
MALE short, thin legs
(SUMMER)

JUVENILE (AUTUMN)
familiar and much-loved part of the farmed countryside
A in Europe, the distinctive-looking Lapwing is sadly FLIGHT: unique flappy flight with steady beats of
declining in most areas as farming systems change. It breeds broad, round wings.
in loose colonies scattered over suitable fields or moors, but
gathers into flocks for the rest of the year, often mixed with
Golden Plovers and Black-headed Gulls (see p.206).
VOICE Nasal, strained weet or ee-wit; wheezy variations on this
theme; passionate song in spring, whee-er-ee, a wheep-wheep!
accompanied by loud throbbing from wings.
NESTING Grass-lined shallow hollow on ground; 3 or 4 eggs;
1 brood;April–June.
FEEDING Often taps foot on ground to attract or reveal prey; ROOSTING FLOCK
tilts forwards to pick insects and spiders from ground, or pull Flocks rest in tight groups; otherwise, they tend to be
earthworms from soil. loosely scattered.
OCCURRENCE
Breeds on wet moors, riverside
pastures, upland fields, and
farmland (decreasing), almost
throughout Europe. In winter,
moves south and west, feeds on
arable fields, meadows, salt marsh
and muddy reservoir edges; in
estuaries in hard weather.
FLYING FLOCK
Seen in the UK
Flocks of Lapwings fly in lines, “V”s, or irregular masses, rising steadily as
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
a group, often circling and returning.
Length 28–31cm (11–12in) Wingspan 70–76cm (28–30in) Weight 150–300g (5–11oz)
Social Winter flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure†
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