Red-wattled Lapwing
|
|
| Red-wattled Lapwing Conservation status: Lower risk (lc) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783) |
The Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is a lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae.
It breeds from Iraq eastwards across tropical Asia. Some northern breeders are migratory, but other populations are resident apart from seasonal dispersion.
These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are large waders, the size of Northern Lapwing with black crown, chest, foreneck stripe and tail tip. The upper face, the rest of the neck, flanks, belly and tail are white and the wings and back are light brown. The bill and facial wattles are red, and the long legs are yellow.
This species is declining in its western range, but is abundant in much tropical Asia, being seen at almost any wetland habitat in its range. Its striking appearance is supplemented by its noisy nature, with a loud and scolding did-he-do-it call.
This species has a preference for marshes and similar freshwater wetland habitats. It lays 3-4 blotchy buff eggs in a ground scrape.
The food of the Red-wattled Lapwing is insects and other invertebrates, which are picked from the ground, mainly at night.