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Photo by nigel pye
- Vanellus vanellus
Identification
28-31cm long bird with a 67-72cm wingspan. Rounded wings and a crest, black and white, green tinted back.
Distribution
Breeds in Palearctic (British Isles, France, Scandinavia and Russia east to the Urals); winters to northern Africa, India, Myanmar and south China.
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
Habitat
Open country with short grass, bare soil or in crops, often near freshwater.
Behaviour
3–4 eggs are laid in a ground scrape.
Diet includes insects and other small invertebrates. It prefers to feed nocturnally when there are moonlit nights.
The name lapwing derives from the "lapping" sound its wings make, or the flapping flight.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Vanellus vanellus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
External Links
