Picture of Northern Lapwing BirdA description of the Northern Lapwing Bird as shown in picture above! Scientific Name: (Vanellus vanellus). Northern Lapwing birds are related to the plover family, lapwings are quite common across temperate Europe and Asia and an occasionally drifter to North America! They are migratory over most of their extensive range, wintering in the south as far as north Africa, northern India and China. Lapwing birds migrates mainly by day, often in large flocks of up to 2000. The name lapwing comes from the 'lapping' sound their wings make in flight. Northern Lapwings are highly vocal birds during their breeding season. Northern Lapwing males and females are similar, except that the male's crest is longer and they have blacker breasts and whiter faces! The lapwing's song is an enchanting extension of its call: "pee-wit, wit, wit-eeze, wit" hence alternative name of Peewits. Northern Lapwings diet consists of earthworms, beetles, flies and caterpillars. These species of birds prefer to feed at nights, especially, on moonlit nights. It has been said that during last decade breeding population has fallen by more than 50% ! | |
