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Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Not yet photographed by the community

Crested wader of farmland; "peewit" call.

Species Profile

Red List (breeding population decline of >50% over 25 years)

Lifespan: 10–15 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 28–31 cm, wingspan 82–87 cm; 150–230 g
Habitat: Open grasslands, moorlands, farmland, and wet meadows with short vegetation and minimal cover.
UK Distribution: Breeds throughout the UK, with populations heaviest in northern England, Scotland, and Wales. Numbers decline in winter; many birds migrate south to continental Europe, whilst others remain as winter residents.
Diet: Invertebrates including earthworms, beetle larvae, flies, and insect pupae, obtained by probing soft ground or pecking at the surface.
Prey: Earthworms, insect larvae, beetles, flies, and other invertebrates
Predators: Foxes, stoats, crows, magpies, gulls, and birds of prey such as sparrowhawks and peregrines
Mating Season: March to July
Breeding: Clutch size 4 eggs; incubation period 24–29 days; typically one brood per year. Young are precocial and fledge at 5–6 weeks.
Behaviour: Highly territorial and vocal during breeding season, performing dramatic aerial displays with tumbling flights and loud calls to defend nesting sites. Forms loose flocks outside the breeding season and performs characteristic 'winnowing' display flights with slow, exaggerated wing beats. Known for aggressive mobbing of predators and intruders near nests.

Did You Know?

•The lapwing's distinctive crest can be raised and lowered, becoming more prominent during displays and alarm situations.
•Their scientific name Vanellus vanellus comes from the Latin 'vanellus' meaning 'winnower', referencing their distinctive wing sound in display flights.
•Lapwing chicks can leave the nest within hours of hatching and feed themselves, making them precocial species.
•The species is declining dramatically in the UK due to agricultural intensification and loss of suitable breeding habitat.
•Lapwings perform a 'broken wing' distraction display to lure predators away from their nests and chicks.

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