Lapwing (Vanellinae)

Lapwing is the common name for birds in the subfamily Vanellinae, part of the family Charadriidae of shorebirds and waders. They are medium-sized birds with long legs, short tails, and straight short bills. Most inhabit open areas: dry grassland, cultivated fields, coastal mudflats, and shallow wetlands.

The subfamily is characterized by broad wings that produce a distinctive irregular flapping flight, and loud alarm calls. Many species have head ornaments such as crests (erect feathers) or colored wattles on the face, and sometimes small spurs on the wing used in defense.

Taxonomy

Vanellinae comprises several genera, though most are placed in the genus Vanellus. The subfamily includes about twenty species found across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. Several African species occur in the Horn of Africa, including species inhabiting the arid grasslands of Somalia.

Feeding and diet

Food consists mainly of insects, worms, land snails, and small invertebrates. Feeding behavior is sight-driven: the bird walks, stops, then pecks at the ground. Some species also feed at night.

Breeding

The nest is a shallow scrape in the ground containing pale brown eggs, camouflaged by their ground color. Both parents typically incubate and guard the nest. When a predator approaches the nest, adult birds use dramatic aerial displays and loud calls to distract; they also perform injury-feigning behavior to lead threats away.

Conservation status

Some species are very abundant, while others have experienced population declines due to habitat conversion, wetland drainage, and nest disturbance. Because nests are on the ground, plowing and grazing directly affect breeding success.