Lapwing

The lapwing meaning refers to the birds’ slow wingbeat, which often applies broadly to members of the subfamily Vanellinae. It is a tiny dark green bird that has a white bosom and feathers sticking upon its head.

A lapwing bird belongs to the subfamily Vanellinae; it is among the various ground-nesting birds (hailing from family Charadriidae) similar to plovers and dotterels. Their length stretches from 10 to 16 inches, well-recognized for its slow, noncontinuous wingbeats in flight and a shrill, and a wailing cry. 

Deceit is a group of lapwings. These species are the birds of the plover family, Charadriidae (order Charadriiformes), specifically the Eurasian lapwing, Vanellus Vanellus, of farmlands and grassy plains. 

A lapwing carries a scientific name, a specific classification, evolution, type, characteristics like physical description, appearance, distribution, habitat, diet, and living conditions, which we will discuss on this page, along with the interesting lapwing India facts.

Lapwing Bird Etymology

The name lapwing has been variously attributed to the "lapping" sound its wings make on the wing, from the irregular progress on the wing thanks to its large wings (the Oxford English Dictionary derives this from an Old English word sense "to totter"), or from its habit of drawing potential predators far away from its nest by trailing a wing as if broken. The names peewit, pewit, tuit or tew-it are onomatopoeic and ask the bird's characteristic call.

The scientific name Vanellus is Medieval Latin for the northern lapwing, which is derived from vannus, meaning a winnowing fan.

The traditional terms "plover", "lapwing", and "dotterel" don't correspond exactly to current taxonomic models; thus, several of the Vanellinae are often called plovers, and one a dotterel, while a couple of of the "true" plovers (subfamily Charadriinae) are known colloquially as lapwings. Generally, a lapwing is often thought of as a bigger plover.

What is a Lapwing?

From the above text, we understood that a lapwing is a huge Old World plover, Vanellus Vanellus that has a long, slim, upcurved crest, an inconsistent, flapping flight, and a shrill cry.

Now, let us understand its scientific classification.

Lapwing Bird Scientific Classification

Evolution of a Lapwing

The fossil record of the Vanellinae is insufficient and generally later in the beginning; no Neogene lapwings appear to be known. On the other hand, it shows up as though from the get-go in their developmental history the plovers, lapwings and dotterels probably have been very nearly very much the same, and they are difficult to separate osteologically even today. Subsequently, since the Red-kneed Dotterel is particular to the point that it may seemingly be viewed as a monotypic subfamily, dependably dating it's anything but a determination of genuine lapwings and plovers would likewise give a smart thought of charadriid wader development by and large. 

A mid-Oligocene – c.28 mya (meaning - million years prior) - a fossil discovered from Rupelmonde, Belgium has been allocated to Vanellus, however, regardless of whether the class was comprehensively characterized, it is totally muddled if the placement is right. Its age links to the presence of the first apparent family Charadriinae at about a similar time, and with the presence of more basal Charadriidae a couple of million years sooner. Nonetheless, the task of fragmentary fossils to Charadriinae or Vanellinae isn't simple. Hence, all things considered, the charadriid waders begin around the Eocene-Oligocene limit – approximately 40–30 mya – however, nothing more can be said as of now. On the off chance that the Belgian fossil is definitely not a genuine lapwing, there are in reality no Vanellinae fossils known before the Quaternary.

The Early Oligocene fossil Dolicopterus from Ronzon, France might be a particularly familial individual from the Charadriidae or even the Vanellinae, however, it has not been studied in recent years and is in critical need of review.

Aside from the ancient Vanellus, the terminated lapwing family Viator has been depicted from fossils. Its remaining parts were found in the tar pits of Talara in Peru and it lived in the Late Pleistocene. Little is known about this fairly huge lapwing; it might really have a place in Vanellus.

The excess Charadrii are highest or potentially stout birds, even stronger than a great deal of the scolopacid waders. The developmental pattern with respect to the Charadriidae – which make up the greater part of the variety of the Charadrii – consequently negates Cope's Rule.

Lapwing Species in a Taxonomic Order 

The below list illustrates the lapwing species belonging to the genus Vanellus, and  Erythrogonys along with their scientific names in taxonomic order:

In Europe's Anglophone countries, lapwing refers specifically to the northern lapwing, the sole member of this group to occur in most of the continent and thus the primary bird to travel by English name lapwing (also referred to as peewit or pyewipe).

Types of Lapwing Birds

Below is the List of the Type of Lapwing Birds:

• Northern lapwing

• Red-wattled lapwing 

• Yellow-wattled lapwing

• White-tailed lapwing

• Sociable lapwing, and

• River lapwing

Now, let us discuss the different types of lapwing birds one by one in detail:

Northern Lapwing

The northern lapwing (Vanellus), additionally alluded to as the peewit or pewit, tuit or tew-it, lapwing, or (in Britain and Ireland) pyewipe or lapwing, might be a bird inside the lapwing subfamily. it's not unexpected through mild Euro Siberia. 

Physical Description

The northern lapwing is around 28–33 cm (11–13 in) long bird with a 67–87 cm (26–34 in) wingspan and a weight around 128–330 g (4.5–11.6 oz); its adjusted wings and a peak. It's additionally the most limited legged of the lapwings. It's principally high contrast, yet the rear end is coloured green. The male highlights a long peak and a dark crown, throat and bosom appearing differently in relation to a generally white face. 

Female and youthful northern lapwing birds have little peaks (feathers) and have less firmly stamped heads, nonetheless, plumages are very comparable. 

Also, it is a vocal bird inside the rearing season along with consistent calling because the amusing tumbling show flight is performed by the male. The standard contact call might be an uproarious, high pitched "pee-mind" from which they get their equivalent of peewit. Depicting guys for the most part make a wheezy "pee-mind, mind, eeze mind" during their showcase flight; these birds additionally make squeaking or mewing sounds.

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It feeds totally on insects and other small invertebrates. Often, this species feeds in blended flocks with golden plovers and black-headed gulls, while the latter robbing the two plovers, but providing a degree of protection against predators.

Like the golden plovers, this species prefers to feed in the dark when there's moonlight.

The northern lapwing is among the species that agrees to the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Geographical Range

Northern lapwings or vanellus are migratory birds that habitats all through the northern Palearctic area (Galbraith, 1988; Musters et al., 2010). Also, they range across Europe, the Mediterranean sea, northern Africa,  Korea, China, Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and the huge majority of Russia (Birdlife International, 2012). 

These species are in the “Near Threatened,” category, as per the IUCN 3.1 data.

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During summers, their relocation originates in late May when the breeding season is finished. However, in pre-winter, their relocation takes place between September and November, besides this, mostly adolescents leave their natal areas during this period. The relocation distances vary between 3000 and 4000 km (Cramp and Simmons, 1983).

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Habitat: Northern lapwings are chiefly agricultural and farmland waders (as per Galbraith, 1988). Raising populaces incline toward wet prairies, knolls, and short sods while the non-reproducing inhabitants use regions like open pastures, flooded land, riverbanks soggy fields, and other the same environments for resting ("IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'', 2012). 

They build nests with the help of small wards of grass, i.e., less than 10 c with little to no tussocks, of highly productive agricultural lands, hence grazing by cattle is significant for habitat quality to allow nest structure (Durant et al., 2008). Comfy and easy access to jumid  (preferred) soil with good biomass of surface or subsurface organisms is required (as per Sheldon et al., 2004).

Red-Wattled Lapwing

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is an Asian lapwing or huge plover, or a wader within the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings, they're ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicators of human or animal movements and therefore the sounds are variously rendered as did he roll in the hay or pity to try to do it, resulting in the colloquial name of did-he-do-it bird. Usually seen in pairs or small groups and typically not away from water they often form large aggregations within the non-breeding season (winter). They nest during a ground scrape laying three to four camouflaged eggs. Adults close to the nest fly, dive at potential predators while calling noisily. The mysteriously designed chicks incubate and promptly follow their folks to take care of, covering up by going underground on the base or inside the grass when undermined. 

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A red-wattled species is under the least concerned category, as per the IUCN 3.1 data.

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Origin and Distribution

Red-wattled lapwing species are spread around the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, southwest and south-central Asia and China.

In the Indian subcontinent, these lapwing species are distributed everywhere India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

In Southeast Asia, these species are dispersed in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore,  Vietnam, and Indonesia.

In southwest and south-central Asia, these red-wattled lapwing species are appropriated in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

Vagrant birds are observed in Bahrain and Jordan. The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of those red-wattled lapwing species in Turkey are Cizre and Silopi.

These red-wattled lapwing species don't normally occur in forests. These species normally happen in altitudes from 0 to 1800 meters.

The counterfeit environments and territories of red-wattled lapwing species incorporate developed grounds, corn fields, grass fields, pasturelands, decrepit horticultural fields, furrowed terrains and country gardens. 

Diet or Feeding Behaviour

The diet of red-wattled lapwing comprises mainly insects, while their primary foods are beetles, ants, termites, grasshoppers, crickets, butterflies, insect imagoes, insect larvae, small gastropods, crustaceans, and worms.

The red-wattled lapwings also prey on seeds, grains and other plant matter. They forage totally on the bottom. They also scratch the bottom with their long, strong legs to bring out the prey hiding within the soil.

Red-Wattled Lapwing Conservation Status

The global population size of the red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is between 50,000 to 60,000 individual birds. The general population trend of those species is unknown.

Throughout its range, this lapwing species is delineated from uncommon to common. The generation length is 9 years. Its distribution size is around 15,100,000 sq.km.

Habitat alteration and destruction, hunting and capture for pet-trade are the most threats which will endanger the survival of those lapwing species.

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) doesn't approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable either under the range size criterion, or under the population trend criterion or under the population size criterion.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has ordered and assessed the lapwing species and has recorded it as of "Least Concern". 

The CITES (Convention on International exchange types of untamed Fauna and Flora) status isn't 'Assessed' for red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus). 

Yellow-Wattled Lapwing

The yellow-wattled lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) may be a medium-sized wanderer, measuring 25 to 30 cm long and measuring 100 to 200 grams. The wingspan is between 65 to 70 cm.

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A yellow-wattled species is under the least concerned category, as per the IUCN 3.1 data.

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These species have the characteristic, prominent triangular yellow facial wattles at the bottom of the bill and forehead. there's a black or brownish black crown, separated by a border of thin white band. Excited birds can raise crown feathers.

In these lapwings, the neck and therefore the upper parts are sandy brown. The rump and therefore the tail are white. Excluding the outer tail feathers, there's a subterminal black band on the tail feathers. The breeding yellow-wattled lapwings have black patches on the chin and throat.

The flight feathers are black and there's a white wing bar on the inner half of the wing. The throat and therefore the upper breast are buff brown. In reproducing lapwings, the bosom is isolated from the white stomach by a diffuse blackish band. The remaining underparts are white. 

The lapwing bill is brief and dim with a yellowish base. The irises are pale brown. The long legs are yellow. The feet stretch past the tail during the flight. These species don't have rear toes.

Lapwing India

In India, these yellow-wattled lapwing species are distributed within the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.

The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of those yellow-wattled lapwing species in Nepal are SuklaPhanta Wildlife Reserve and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Koshi Barrage.

White-Tailed Lapwing 

An elegant medium-sized white-tailed lapwing is a long-legged and beautiful long-billed species. It is the only lapwing found in places other than very shallow water, where it catches insects and many small prey from the surface.

Adult lapwings of these species are slim erect birds with a brown back and foreneck, paler face and grey bosom. Its long yellow legs, entirely white tail and differentiating brown, white and black wings make their appearance remarkable. However, young species have a scaly back, and have a brown tail.

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Sociable Lapwing

A critically endangered sociable lapwing or sociable plover (Vanellus gregarius) wandered within the lapwing family of birds. A basically imperiled agreeable lapwing or friendly plover (Vanellus gregarius) meandered inside the lapwing group of birds. The class name is Medieval Latin for a lapwing and comes from vannus, a winnowing fan. The exact gregarius is Latin for "friendly" from grex, gregis, "flock." 

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River Lapwing

The river lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii), formerly called spur-winged lapwing, may be a lapwing species which breeds from the Indian Subcontinent eastwards to Southeast Asia. Its reach incorporates a lot of northern and northeastern India, and stretches out through Southeast Asia to Vietnam. It has all the earmarks of being totally inactive. 

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Interesting Lapwing Bird Facts

• The sound of a yellow-wattled lapwing species may be a descending "ke-oo..ke-oo", a high pitched repeated “twit.twit.twit” or a pointy "tchee-it" sound.

• The innate ecosystems and habitats of red-wattled lapwing species involve open forests, wetlands, riverine gravel islands, flooded grasslands, montane plains and ravines, freshwater marshes, rivers and streams.

• The yellow-wattled lapwing species spread across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Vagrant birds are observed in Myanmar and Malaysia.

• The white-tailed lapwing species native to the parts of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Post breeding, the adolescents may distribute and establish and relocate within the range. Also, they may make local movements only for feeding and breeding within their range.