Lapwing- Hebridean Birds
Western Isles Birds - Lapwings - Hebridean Birds - Western Isles Birds.
The Lapwing from a distance appears black and white below, but closer observation reveals the upperparts as a beautiful iridescent dark green and purple.
The breast and cheeks are white and under-tail coverts are orange-brown. The legs are pink.
Males and female lapwings are similar, except the male's crest is longer and they have blacker breasts and whiter faces.
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| Bird Overview - Lapwing |
| Family |
| Plovers and lapwings (Charadriidae) |
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Latin name |
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Population |
Uk & Scotland
Conservation Status is now Red |
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Similar Species |
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| Description |
Lapwings have a long crest, black and white pattern and the very broad, bluntly rounded shape of its wings. From a distance lapwings look black and white but, up-close, the back has an iridescent green and purple sheen.It is mainly black and white, but the back is tinted green.
The male has a long crest and a black crown, throat and breast contrasting with an otherwise white face. Females and young birds have shorter crests, and have less strongly marked heads, but plumages are otherwise quite similar.
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| Size |
| Length: 30cm Wingspan: 84cm Weight: 230g Average Lifespan: 4-5 years |
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| Habitat |
The lapwings can be seen on farmland, as well as the coastal areas and sandy shores |
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| Food |
Insects and Worms mainly, and small invertebrates, will even feed at night, especially when there is a bright moon
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| Voice |
The "pee-wit" call of the Lapwing is frequently to be heard. Its song is: "pee-wit, wit, wit-eeze, wit"
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| Breeding |
Female lapwings sit on the nests around late March, which are simple scrapes in the mud or sand, they need to have a good view all round so as to spot predators. By late spring, fluffy lapwing chicks can be seen venturing out , in fact they venture out shortly after birth.Soon after hatching, the parents will lead them to suitable feeding areas
If the nest is threatened at all, lapwings will 'mob' predators - attacking them in an effort to distract them from the eggs and chicks
Lapwings have a clutch of maybe 4 eggs, Incubation 25 - 34 days, fledge 35 - 40days
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| Misc. Info |
As spring approaches, flocks that have been wintering in Scotland and the UK get smaller; some birds head back to their continental breeding grounds and others disperse to breed in the UK
Courting - Males put on dramatic flying displays, as they tumble through the air, whilst screeching with the piercing 'peewit' call, which gives them their common name - peewit.
The name 'lapwing' is thought to have been an Old English word 'hleapewince' meaning leaping with a wink in it
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