Northern Lapwing Bird Facts (Vanellus vanellus)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Northern Lapwing is a striking wader with a distinctive black crest, iridescent green back, and black-and-white pattern on its wings and underparts. Its round-winged shape and broad, rounded wing tips are key identification features. Their short, straight bill is black, and their legs are pinkish.

Males have longer crests and more contrasting plumage than females. In winter, both sexes display duller colours, with brownish feather edges on the upperparts.

Lapwing chicks can be seen near their parents from the day they hatch. The tiny youngsters are all legs and have mottled brown backs and crowns, with dark chests from an early age. As they mature, juveniles look increasingly like non-breeding adults but have paler breast bands and short crests.

Size

Length

28cm to 31cm

Wingspan

67cm to 72cm

Weight

128g to 330g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White Green

Secondary Colour

Brown

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Northern Lapwing can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Northern Lapwing can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Northern Lapwing can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Northern Lapwing is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Northern Lapwings inhabit open country, including farmland, wet meadows, and coastal habitats across Europe and temperate Asia. They prefer short vegetation for nesting and feeding.

In winter, many birds from northern and eastern populations migrate to southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. In the UK, they are widespread residents, with numbers boosted by winter visitors from continental Europe.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Northern Lapwing. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Albania Algeria Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria China Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Egypt Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hong Kong Hungary India Iran Ireland Italy Japan Jordan Laos Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Mauritania Moldova Montenegro Morocco Myanmar Nepal Netherlands North Korea Norway Pakistan Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Thailand The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey Ukraine Vietnam

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Iceland Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Liechtenstein Mongolia Russia Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Afghanistan Bahrain Cyprus Iraq Israel Kuwait Malta Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Antigua and Barbuda Barbados Bermuda Brunei Canada Cape Verde Dominica Gambia Greenland Guadeloupe Kenya Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Senegal Sudan Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Tajikistan The Bahamas Turks and Caicos United States of America Yemen

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Northern Lapwing displays remarkable agility, particularly during its acrobatic flight displays. Its ability to perform twisting turns and rolls in the air, coupled with its distinctive flight pattern and broad, rounded wings, suggests a high level of aerial manoeuvrability.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not exceptionally strong, the Northern Lapwing possesses adequate strength for its size and lifestyle. Its ability to perform aerial displays and defend its territory indicates a moderate level of strength, suitable for its needs as a medium-sized wader.

Adaptability 75

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Northern Lapwings demonstrate good adaptability, inhabiting various open habitats from farmland to coastal areas. Their ability to adjust their diet seasonally and employ different foraging techniques, such as 'foot-trembling', further showcases their adaptiveness.

Aggressiveness 70

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

During breeding season, Northern Lapwings exhibit notable aggression in defending their nests and young. Their use of distraction displays to lure predators away and their willingness to mob potential threats indicate a fairly high level of aggressiveness when necessary.

Endurance 80

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Northern Lapwing's endurance is quite impressive, particularly considering its migratory habits. Many individuals undertake long-distance migrations from northern and eastern populations to southern Europe and North Africa, demonstrating considerable stamina and resilience.

Diet

Northern Lapwings primarily feed on insects, worms, and other invertebrates. They use a distinctive foraging technique called 'foot-trembling', where they tap the ground with their feet to disturb prey.

During winter, they may supplement their diet with some plant material, including seeds and leaves.

Behaviour

Northern Lapwings are known for their acrobatic flight displays during the breeding season, performing twisting turns and rolls accompanied by their distinctive calls.

They often feed in flocks, walking with a deliberate gait and frequently pausing to look for prey. When threatened, they employ distraction displays to lure predators away from nests.

Vocalisation

The Northern Lapwing's call is a distinctive, far-carrying 'pee-wit' or 'pee-wee-wit', which gives the bird its alternative name 'Peewit'.

During the breeding season, males produce a buzzing 'song' accompanied by wing beats during display flights, creating a mechanical whirring sound.

Nesting & Breeding

Northern Lapwings breed from March to July, with males performing elaborate aerial displays to attract mates. They are known for their 'tumbling' flight and loud calls during courtship.

Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, often in fields or near wetlands. Females typically lay 3-4 olive-brown eggs with black markings. Both parents may create multiple scrapes before selecting the final nest site.

Incubation lasts about 26-28 days, shared by both parents. Chicks are precocial, leaving the nest soon after hatching and fledge after 35-40 days.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Near Threatened ^[1]

The Northern Lapwing is classified as Near Threatened due to population declines across its range. Agricultural intensification, habitat loss, and changes in land management practices are primary threats.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding habitats and promoting wildlife-friendly farming practices.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

5,600,000 - 10,500,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Peewit, Green Plover

Family:

Charadriidae

Average Lifespan

6 years

Max Lifespan

24 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include foxes, stoats, crows, and birds of prey such as peregrine falcons and hen harriers.

Did You Know?

Northern Lapwings can swim and have been observed bathing in shallow water.
They have a 360-degree field of vision, helping them spot predators in open habitats.
Their eggs were once considered a delicacy in some European countries, contributing to population declines.

FAQs

What are Lapwings called in Scotland?

Lapwings are common in Scotland, where they are also known as peewits or Green Plovers.

What is a flock of Lapwings called?

A group of Lapwings is called a deceit. This unusual name refers to their habit of feigning injury to protect their nests.

How many Lapwings are in the UK?

Nearly 100,000 Lapwing pairs nest in the UK, although their numbers may increase to over 600,000 individuals in the non-breeding season.

Do Lapwings fly at night?

Lapwings are active both during the day and night. They are particularly active on bright, moonlit nights when they will forage, fly, and call.