Meadow birds
Northern Lapwing
Acrobat of the sky
Lapwings are typical meadow birds. Nevertheless, they are now often seen on arable land, as they prefer areas with short and sparse vegetation, e.g. stubble fields. They forage mainly in or on top of the soil. Their diet consists of insects, such as beetles, caterpillars and grasshoppers, but they also eat other small animals, such as worms, or vegetable food.
Lapwings are usually active during the day, but they can also be heard calling during bright nights. They are social birds, as their clutches are often laid in colonies and defended together. Characteristic features of Lapwings are their acrobatic flight manoeuvres and the black curl of feathers on their head, the so-called crest.
Profile
Scientific name | Vanellus vanellus |
Call | Peewit … peewit |
Food | Small invertebrates, sometimes seeds |
In breeding grounds | February to June |
Clutch size | 3–4, usually 4 |
Broods per year | 1–2 |
Population trend in Europe | Declining |
Pictures
![A Northern Lapwing seen from the side. Clearly visible are its characteristic crest...](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/2/csm_Kiebitz_Portraet_1_Marlow_5394314431.jpg)
![A Northern Lapwing standing in short grass vegetation. Clearly visible are its...](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/7/csm_Kiebitz_Portraet_2_Lange_994d3833c5.jpg)
![More than 30 Northern Lapwings stand in shallow water. Some are cleaning their plumage.](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/b/csm_Kiebitz_Gruppe_Lange_dcfc03bf5f.jpg)
![A Northern Lapwing with spread wings in the air. It is flying close to the ground. In the...](/fileadmin/_processed_/1/4/csm_Kiebitz_Flug_Lange_933d087117.jpg)
![Around 50 flying Northern Lapwings, seen from below. In the back is a clear blue sky.](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/4/csm_Kiebitz_Schwarm_Lange_7b55830942.jpg)
![A Northern Lapwing rests on the ground, surrounded by short grass vegetation. You cannot...](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/e/csm_Kiebitz_bruetend_Marlow_5ed69797cc.jpg)
![A Northern Lapwing rests on the ground, surrounded by very short grass vegetation. In...](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/d/csm_Kiebitz_Kueken_1_Krueger_0ea8a9824c.jpg)
![Two small chicks walk through short vegetation on wet soil. Their feathers look very...](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/f/csm_Kiebitz_Kueken_2_Marlow_f754b3263c.jpg)
More information
Find out more about the Northern Lapwing.