Southern Lapwing
A species of Lapwings Scientific name : Vanellus chilensis Genus : Lapwings
Southern Lapwing, A species of Lapwings
Botanical name: Vanellus chilensis
Genus: Lapwings
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Description People often ask General Info
Photo By Dario Sanches , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
This lapwing is the only crested wader in South America. The upperparts are mainly brownish grey. The head is particularly striking; mainly grey with a black forehead and throat patch extending onto the black breast. The rest of the underparts are white, and the eye ring, legs and most of the bill are pink. It is equipped with red bony extensions under the wings (spurs), used to intimidate foes and fight birds of prey. The rump is white and the tail black.
Size
38 cm
Life Expectancy
10 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
Southern Lapwing primarily feed on insects like grasshoppers, various terrestrial invertebrates, earthworms, small fish, and insect larvae. They exhibit unique foraging techniques, favoring wetlands and grassy areas to hunt prey. Southern Lapwing's diet reflects a specialized adaptation to its habitat.
Habitat
Southern Lapwing thrives in a variety of open landscapes across broader geographical regions, favoring wetlands, grasslands, and areas close to water such as marshes, river plains, and tidal flats. These birds habitually occupy wet and damp environments like pastures and damp meadows, and are adept at colonizing human-altered landscapes, including ploughed lands and urban settings with grassy substrates like lawns, parks, and farms. While southern Lapwing typically avoid dense forests, they can be present near closed canopy areas that include open clearings or adjacent water features.
Dite type
Insectivorous
People often ask
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Photo By Dario Sanches , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Plovers Genus
Lapwings Species
Southern Lapwing