Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
Where is it found?
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Farmland and wetland
Diet and foraging
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Searches for invertebrates in the surface soil layers by systematically scanning the ground and listening for its preys movement.
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Key adaptations
Robust, stout bill for probing the soil surface layers
Social organisation and mating system
Forms huge flocks in winter
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Individuals for socially monogamous pairs for breeding, but some promiscuity occurs. Cooperative breeding sometimes occurs too; this is when individuals help to rear another pairs chicks.
Did you know that...?
The Lapwing's name comes from the Old English word hleapewince which means "leap with a flicker in it". This name may have come from the flickering appearance of Lapwing's wings when flying in large flocks due to their wings tips being dark black.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Vanellus vanellus 2 (Marek Szczepanek)". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vanellus_vanellus_2_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg#/media/File:Vanellus_vanellus_2_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg
"Vanellus vanellus (profile)" by © Hans Hillewaert /. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vanellus_vanellus_(profile).jpg#/media/File:Vanellus_vanellus_(profile).jpg
"XN Vanellus vanellus 605" by Guido Gerding - Personal photograph taken by Author, URL: Ex :: Natura - Freies Portal für Umweltbildung (Environmental Education). Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:XN_Vanellus_vanellus_605.jpg#/media/File:XN_Vanellus_vanellus_605.jpg
"Vanellus vanellus 2 (Marek Szczepanek)". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vanellus_vanellus_2_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg#/media/File:Vanellus_vanellus_2_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg
"Vanellus vanellus (profile)" by © Hans Hillewaert /. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vanellus_vanellus_(profile).jpg#/media/File:Vanellus_vanellus_(profile).jpg
"XN Vanellus vanellus 605" by Guido Gerding - Personal photograph taken by Author, URL: Ex :: Natura - Freies Portal für Umweltbildung (Environmental Education). Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:XN_Vanellus_vanellus_605.jpg#/media/File:XN_Vanellus_vanellus_605.jpg