Wildlifeof Vietnam
Northern Lapwing
Shorebirds
Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 3.0
Vanellus vanellus
Rare visitor: recorded only occasionally in this country
Basic stats
Diet
Mainly insects and other small invertebrates
Habitat
Cultivated areas and other habitats with short vegetation
Range
Temperate Eurosiberia; winters to North Africa, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan and parts of China
Clutch size
3–4 eggs
Size
28–33cm
Wingspan
67–87cm
Weight
128–330g
The northern lapwing, or peewit, is 28 to 33cm long with a 67 to 87cm wingspan and a body mass of 128 to 330g. It has rounded wings and a crest, and its plumage is mainly black and white with a green tint on the back. The male has a long crest and a black crown, throat and breast contrasting with a white face, while females and young have shorter crests (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is highly migratory over most of its range, wintering as far south as North Africa, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan and parts of China. It breeds in cultivated areas and other places with short vegetation, laying three or four eggs in a ground scrape, and fiercely defends nest and young. The contact call is a loud, shrill 'pee-wit'. It eats mainly insects and other small invertebrates.
Quick answers
- What does the Northern Lapwing eat?
- Mainly insects and other small invertebrates
- What habitat does the Northern Lapwing live in?
- Cultivated areas and other habitats with short vegetation
- Where is the Northern Lapwing found?
- Temperate Eurosiberia; winters to North Africa, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan and parts of China
- How many eggs does the Northern Lapwing lay?
- 3–4 eggs
- How big is the Northern Lapwing?
- 28–33cm
- What is the wingspan of the Northern Lapwing?
- 67–87cm
- How much does the Northern Lapwing weigh?
- 128–330g