Bird Guide

Andean Lapwing vs River Lapwing

Andean Lapwing (Vanellus resplendens)

Andean Lapwing

Vanellus resplendens

Medium214 gGrassland

The Andean lapwing is about 33 cm (13 in) long and weighs 193 to 230 g (6.8 to 8.1 oz). The sexes are alike and have no seasonal changes in plumage. Adults have a creamy gray head and neck with a dark brownish gray patch around the eye. Their upperparts are bronzy green with a purple patch on the wing coverts. Their breast is dark gray and their belly white. Their bill is pinkish orange with a black tip, their eye is reddish, and their legs are also reddish. Juveniles have a brownish head and neck, buff mottling on the breast, and pale buff fringes on the upperparts feathers. Voice: Like most lapwings, the Andean is noisy. "sually heard are a sharp 'wik' in alarm, a harsh 'criee-criee-cri' call, a staccato 'cwi-cwi-cwi...' or more mellow and melodic 'dididi---celeec-celeec-celeec-ce...'." It also makes "a soft querulous 'cow' note...or a low, tremulous 'kwiwiwiwirrr'."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Patty McGann · CC BY 2.0
River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii)

River Lapwing

Vanellus duvaucelii

Medium143 gRiverine

The river lapwing is 29–32 cm long. It has a black crest, crown, face and central throat and grey-white neck sides and nape. It has a grey-brown breast band and white underparts with a black belly patch. The back is brown, the rump is white and the tail is black. This is a striking species in flight, with black primaries, white under wings and upper wing secondaries, and brown upper wing coverts. Adults of both sexes are similarly plumaged, but males are slightly larger than females.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Rejoice Gassah · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Andean Lapwing and River Lapwing.