Red-wattled Lapwing

The red-wattled lapwing is a large plover about 35cm long. The wings and back are light brown with a purple to green sheen, while the head, a bib and the back of the neck are black, separated by a broad white band running from the belly up the sides of the neck to the crown. It has a red fleshy wattle in front of each eye, a black-tipped red bill, long yellow legs and a short, black-tipped tail, and shows bold white wing bars in flight. The sexes look alike, though males have slightly longer wings (Wikipedia, general species account).

Like other lapwings it lives on the ground and cannot perch. Its loud alarm calls, rendered as did he do it or pity to do it, warn of any movement by people or animals. It is usually seen in pairs or small groups near water, sometimes in large flocks in winter. It nests in a ground scrape, laying three or four camouflaged eggs, and adults dive at intruders while calling noisily; the chicks follow their parents as soon as they hatch and lie flat when threatened. In India it is resident across a very large range; SoIB 2023 finds its trends uncertain and rates it a Low conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).