Bird Guide

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Least ConcernInvertebratesGrasslandScrapeLarge · 327 g

About the Southern Lapwing

The southern lapwing, commonly called quero-quero in Brazil, or tero in Argentina and Uruguay, tero-tero in Paraguay, and queltehue in Chile is a wader in the order Charadriiformes. It is a common and widespread resident throughout South America, except in densely forested regions, the higher parts of the Andes, and the arid coast of a large part of western South America. This bird is particularly common in the basin of the Río de la Plata. It has also been spreading through Central America in recent years. It reached Trinidad in 1961, Tobago in 1974, and has rapidly increased on both islands, sporadically making its way North to Barbados where one pair mated, nested, and produced chicks in…

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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This lapwing is the only crested wader in South America. It is 32 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) in length and weighs approximately 250 to 425 g (8.8 to 15.0 oz). The upperparts are mainly brownish grey, with a bronze glossing on the shoulders. The head is particularly striking; mainly grey with a black forehead and throat patch extending onto the black breast. A white border separates the black of the face from the grey of the head and crest. The rest of the underparts are white and the eye ring, legs, and most of the bill are pink.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Southern Lapwing lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.

When to see the Southern Lapwing

Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Northern Lapwing vs Southern Lapwing · Masked Lapwing vs Southern Lapwing · Red-wattled Lapwing vs Southern Lapwing · Blacksmith Lapwing vs Southern Lapwing

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