About the River Lapwing
The river lapwing is a lapwing species which breeds from the Indian subcontinent eastwards to Southeast Asia. It range includes much of northern and northeastern India, and extends through Southeast Asia to Vietnam. It appears to be entirely sedentary. Formerly also called spur-winged lapwing, this name is better reserved for one of the "spur-winged plovers" of old, Vanellus spinosus of Africa, whose scientific name it literally translates. The masked lapwing of Australasia was at one time also called "spur-winged plover", completing the name confusion.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Pakistan.
When to see it
Peak activity in February · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Grey-headed LapwingVanellus cinereusThe grey-headed lapwing is 34–37 cm long.
Andean LapwingVanellus resplendensThe Andean lapwing is about 33 cm (13 in) long and weighs 193 to 230 g (6.8 to 8.1 oz).
White-tailed LapwingVanellus leucurusThe white-tailed lapwing or white-tailed plover is a wader in the lapwing genus.
Learn the River Lapwing for real
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