ANIMALS FINDER

Northern lapwing

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Hàbitat Natural
Location in the zoo

Escolta'l

Geographic distribution:

Europe, north Africa and western and central Asia

Scientific name:
- Vanellus vanellus
Taxonomy:
- Class: Birds
- Order: Charadriiformes
- Family: Charadriidae
Biology:
- Area of origin: Africa, Asia, Europe
- Habitat: Marsh
- Social life: Gregarious
- Food: Insectivorous

Rating:
- Birds
Physical Characteristics:
- Longevity: up to 10 years
- Weight at birth:
- Middleweight: 100 - 200 g
- Length: 28- 31 cm
Reproduction
- Reproduction: Oviparous
- Incubation: 26 - 28 days
- Number of eggs: 2-5, generally 4

Risk level of the species

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Red list: Scale according to the situation of the species IUCN

Description

This medium-sized shorebird is characterised by its white belly, black chest, the iridescent green of the top of its wings and chestnut-coloured tail feathers. The beak is short and they have a crest of black feathers at the nape, which is considerably longer on males.
A good part of the Iberian populations of this species is sedentary, although they only reproduce in a few locations in central and southern Spain. However, from November to March, large contingents of lapwings from Central and Western Europe come to spend the cold winter months here. Their popular name stems from this notable trait.
They inhabit all types of open spaces with abundant surrounding water and primarily feed on all types of invertebrates: worms, beetles, locusts, ants, spiders, snails and centipedes, although they can also capture small vertebrates such as tadpoles, frogs and small fish. They occasionally eat plant matter such as different types of grain and seeds.
They build their nests in a small depression on the ground lined with leaves and twigs. Incubation is done by both members of the couple. Although they can breed alone, they normally do so in colonies, in which the reproduction territory is defended by the entire community.
It is a migratory and wintering bird in Catalonia, common to the agricultural plains throughout the country, although they do not reproduce in our country at present.
A common species during the winter, populations are in danger due to the deterioration of their habitat due to human activity and human infrastructures.

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