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WetlandScrapeMedium · 181 g
What the Red-wattled Lapwing sounds like
ID tip
Red-wattled lapwings are large waders, about 35 cm (14 in) long. The wings and back are light brown with a purple to green sheen, but the head, a bib on the front and back of the neck are black. Prominently white patch runs between these two colours, from belly and tail, flanking the neck to the sides of crown. Short tail is tipped black. A red fleshy wattle in front of each eye, black-tipped red bill, and the long legs are yellow. In flight, prominent white wing bars formed by the white on the secondary coverts.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Red-wattled Lapwing
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is February, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Red-wattled Lapwing
The map shades 26 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Netherlands.
About the Red-wattled Lapwing
The red-wattled lapwing is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicators of human or animal movements and the sounds have been variously rendered as did he do it or pity to do it leading to the colloquial name of did-he-do-it bird. Usually seen in pairs or small groups not far from water, they sometimes form large aggregations in the non-breeding season (winter). They nest in a ground scrape laying three to four camouflaged eggs. Adults near the nest fly around, diving at potential predators while calling noisily.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Masked LapwingVanellus milesThe masked lapwing is the largest representative of the family Charadriidae.
Southern LapwingVanellus chilensisThis lapwing is the only crested wader in South America.
Blacksmith LapwingVanellus armatusBlacksmith lapwings are very boldly patterned in black, grey and white, possibly warning colours to predators.
Side by side: Northern Lapwing vs Red-wattled Lapwing · Red-wattled Lapwing vs Southern Lapwing · Masked Lapwing vs Red-wattled Lapwing · Blacksmith Lapwing vs Red-wattled Lapwing
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