Page 425 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Family Charadriidae Species Vanellus spinosus Family Charadriidae Species Vanellus gregarius
Spur-winged Lapwing Sociable Lapwing
A big and boldly marked plover, scarcely reaching A rather large,bulky plover,typically associating with
Europe, this is a common species along riversides and Lapwings, the Sociable Lapwing looks grey with a dark
on sandy places in the Middle East. It is easily belly and a black and white striped face in summer. In
distinguished by its black cap and breast, bold white winter, the body is more uniform sandy grey and the
neck, and grey-brown back. It often stands in head less boldly marked, but still showing a dark cap
pairs or forms noisy groups. black and pale stripes over the eye. In flight, dark
cap
In flight, the wings show white the wings reveal a broad white cap
cheeks
black tips and a broad white triangular patch and black tips;
diagonal band on top. the tail has a black band.
OCCURRENCE Rare in OCCURRENCE Rare vagrant white over
eye
Greece; common in to W Europe from Asia,
Israel, Egypt, especially sometimes in winter; rare
along Nile. migrant in SE Europe.
VOICE Loud, black VOICE Harsh,
metallic, breast chattering notes
repeated, in flight, but
high titi-tirik grey- usually silent.
and similar notes. brown
back
JUVENILE
ADULT

Length 25–28cm (10–11in) Wingspan 60–65cm (23 1 ⁄2 –26in) Length 27–30cm (10 1 ⁄2 –12in) Wingspan 60–65cm (23 1 ⁄2 –26in)

Family Charadriidae Species Vanellus leucurus Family Scolopacidae Species Limicola falcinellus
White-tailed Lapwing Broad-billed Sandpiper
More upright, long-legged, and elegant than other A small, short-legged wader, this bird has a contrasting
lapwings, this species is identified by its white tail dark back and white belly. In spring, it has a “frosty”
with no black band, and long yellow legs look, fading to darker brown with coppery edges in
that extend well behind the tail in flight. pale grey- late summer, with long whitish stripes on the back.
brown
It may show a dark grey breast-band head In winter, it is much paler and plainer grey.The best
against a whiter belly.The wings have a feature is then the two white lines over each eye that
neat black-edged white band and large become bolder in summer.The bill is rather heavy,
black tips.Young birds are spotted above. faintly kinked down,and thinner at the tip.
double
OCCURRENCE Very rare in Romania; OCCURRENCE Breeds in Scandinavia, white line
very rare vagrant in W Europe migrates through E Europe; rare in west, over eye
in late summer. mostly in late spring.
VOICE Usually silent. VOICE A high,
buzzing trill, dark
back
bree-eeet.
dark grey
breast-
band
ADULT
long yellow (SUMMER)
legs
ADULT

Length 26–29cm (10–11 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 60cm (23 1 ⁄2in) Length 15–18cm (6–7in) Wingspan 30–34cm (12–13 1 ⁄2in)
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