Northern Lapwing Identification

The Northern Lapwing is about the size of a pigeon.

It has a robust appearance with thin legs.

It is recognized by its long, thin, and curved crest.

Its plumage is black and white with metallic green and purple reflections on the upperparts.

Its wings have a distinctive shape, broad and spatula-like.

In breeding plumage, males have a longer crest and deep black throat and face.

In contrast, the female has a shorter crest, a black forehead, but a black and white throat.

In non-breeding plumage, the front of the neck and chin are white, with some rufous on the head and buff fringes on the upperparts.

Juveniles have a shorter crest and a scaly pale appearance on the upperparts.

In its breeding grounds, the Northern Lapwing is known for its "yodeling" song with sharp upward or downward variations. "criarrh wewe criou ouit ouit".

In flight, it produces a high-pitched and hoarse alarm call "thèè-éch". It also serves as a contact call between individuals, for example during nocturnal migration.

During the courtship flight, males perform yodeling songs with sharp upward or downward variations. The sound of wingbeats also serves to mark their territory. "woup woup woup…"

Here, you can hear calls in flight "thèè-èch" followed by the song of a male with its sharp variations and electronic sounds.

The Northern Lapwing flies easily using slow and few wingbeats thanks to its broad wings.

It is often seen in large groups, especially in winter. From a distance, the group seems to "flash" due to its contrasting colors.

The group is perfectly synchronized in flight when attacking a predator like a falcon.

The Northern Lapwing is a common breeder in open habitats (inland and coastal).

It nests either solitarily or in small loose colonies.

Its nest is a simple ground depression, lined with plant materials. It is placed to have a good view of the surroundings.

The chicks are beige with black spots. They blend easily with the ground to avoid detection.

Males perform acrobatic flights during courtship. They dive, rise, and flip from one wing to the other with their yodeling song.

These courtship flights are noisy and serve to mark territory. "woup woup woup…"

The female sometimes lays an egg in the nest of another species like the Black-tailed Godwit or the Common Redshank.

She lays one or two clutches per year, but there is often a replacement clutch if the first is lost.

The Northern Lapwing is a wader. It lives and feeds on mudflats thanks to its legs and beak adapted to wet and muddy environments.

It feeds on worms and insects.

It probes the ground with its beak and finds its prey by touch.

In shallow water, it agitates its foot to move prey and locate them.

It also hunts at night for earthworms that come to the surface.

It is found in fields, coastal meadows, pastures, and near ponds.

It winters in large groups in fields and marshes.

It can be resident as in the west and south of Europe (in England, France, Spain).

It can be migratory as in the north and east of Europe.

It lives about twenty-three years.