The family Charadriidae was introduced by William Elford Leach, MD, FRS (2 February 1791 – 25 August 1836), an English zoologist and marine biologist, in a guide to the contents of the British Museum published in 1820. It comprises two subfamilies, viz., Vanellinae and Charadriinae.
The subfamily Vanellinae was first described by Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte, (24 May 1803 – 29 July 1857), a French biologist and ornithologist, in the year 1842. The subfamily Vanellinae comprises two genera, namely, Erythrogonys and Vanellus.
The genus Vanellus was first described by Mathurin Jacques Brisson, a French zoologist and natural philosopher, in the year 1760. The genus Vanellus comprises 24 species.
The species Vanellus leucurus was first introduced (as Charadrius leucurus) by Martin Hinrich Carl Lichtenstein, a German botanist and zoologist, in the year 1823.
Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:
Vanellus leucurus
Species:
V. leucurus
Genus:
Vanellus
Subfamily:
-
Family:
Charadriidae
Order:
Charadriiformes
Class:
Aves
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia
1.White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus 339 Photo by Kishore Bhargava
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2.White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus Photo by Davidvraju
3.White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus Photo by Ron Knight
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5.White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus Photo by J.M.Garg
6.White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus Photo by J.M.Garg
7.White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus Photo by J.M.Garg
8.White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus Photo by Baldhur
The white-tailed lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) belongs to the family of plovers and lapwings, the Charadriidae.
The white-tailed lapwing species is distributed in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, West Asia, northeast Africa and central Asia. These lapwing species are also known as white-tailed plovers. These lapwings are monotypic species.
Appearance, physical description and identification
The white-tailed lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) is a fairly large lapwing, measuring 25 to 30 cm in length and weighing 100 to 200 grams. Both the sexes look alike.
The white-tailed lapwing has grayish brown plumage without obvious patterning. The face and forehead are pale grayish brown. The supercilium is pale and indistinct. The tail is whitish. The breast region is dark grayish brown. The juveniles have conspicuously variegated upperparts.
The bill is black and is rather long for a lapwing. The irises are dark brown. The feet are very long and yellow. It has elegant gait. The feet project well beyond tail in flight. The white-tailed lapwing call is a squeaking "pet..ee..wit" or subdued, plaintive "pee-wick" sound.
1.Birds of India - Image of White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus by Davidvraju
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2.Indian birds - Picture of White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus by Kishore Bhargava
3.Birds of India - Photo of White-tailed lapwing - Vanellus leucurus by Ron Knight
Origin, geographical range and distribution
The white-tailed lapwing species are distributed in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Egypt, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Vagrant white-tailed lapwings have been observed in United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Germany, France, Finland, Denmark, Nigeria, Tunisia, Niger, Morocco, Libya and Algeria.
In India, wintering populations of white-tailed lapwing occur in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of these white-tailed lapwings in Iran are Horeh Bamdej, Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa. The IBA in Sudan is Lake Abiad.
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of these lapwings in Iraq are Baquba wetlands and Razzaza Lake (Bahr Al Milh). The IBA in South Sudan is Lake Abiad (South Sudan).
Ecosystem and habitat
These white-tailed lapwing species do not normally occur in forest. They normally occur in altitudes from 0 to 1000 meters.
The artificial ecosystems and habitats of these lapwing species include water reservoirs, canals, drainage channels, aquaculture ponds and wastewater treatment areas.
The natural ecosystems and habitats of these white-tailed lapwing species include, coastal freshwater lakes, lagoons, marine lakes, tide pools, mudflats, marshes, rivers, streams and creeks.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of these white-tailed lapwing consists mainly of insects.
Caterpillars, insects, insect larvae, beetles, grasshoppers, locust, crickets, dragonflies, cicadas, spiders, maggots, worms, molluscs and crustaceans are their primary food.
These lapwings also feed on seeds, grains, leaves and flowers. These species forage on the ground, picking insects and other small prey. Ploughed fields and grasslands are their favorite feeding grounds.
Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these white-tailed lapwing species is during April to May in most of their breeding range. They breed in loose colonies. These birds are monogamous.
The nesting sites are usually located on damp, vegetated areas near water and dry ridges. The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground.
The lapwing clutch contains three to four eggs. The breeding pair take turns to incubate the eggs. The chicks hatch out after 25 days. The parents brood the chicks. The chicks are precocial and are able feed themselves.
Migration and movement patterns
These white-tailed lapwing species are partially migrant birds.
Migratory white-tailed lapwing populations occur in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, northwest Afghanistan, northwest Iran, parts of Turkey, Syria and Azerbaijan. These breeding populations migrate southwards for wintering.
Wintering lapwing populations occur in Sudan, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, west and northwest India. These populations arrive at their breeding grounds in early summer.
The white-tailed lapwing populations in parts of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan are resident. Post breeding, the juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. They may make local movements for feeding and breeding within their range.
White-tailed lapwing - Quick Facts
Scientific name: Vanellus leucurus
Species author: (Lichtenstein, 1823)
Synonyms/Protonym: Charadrius leucurus M. H. C. Lichtenstein, 1823
Family: Charadriidae › Charadriiformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
The global population size of the white-tailed lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) is estimated to be around 20,000 to 130,000 individual birds. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be fluctuating.
Throughout its range, this lapwing species is reported to be scarce to locally common. The generation length is 9 years. Its distribution size is about 6,840,000 sq.km.
Habitat alteration and destruction, the draining of wetlands for expansion of agriculture are the main threats that are endangering the survival of this lapwing species.
IUCN and CITES status
The white-tailed lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) does not approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable either under the range size criterion, or under the population trend criterion or under the population size criterion.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the lapwing species and has listed it as of "Least Concern".
The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for white-tailed lapwing (Vanellus leucurus).
Taxonomy and scientific classification of Vanellus leucurus
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Charadriidae
Subfamily:
-
Genus:
Vanellus
Species:
V. leucurus
Binomial name:
Vanellus leucurus
IUCN status listing:
Least Concern
The white-tailed lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) is closely related to sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius).
1.Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Davidraju_IMG_3594_(cropped).jpg (cropped)
Photo author: Davidvraju | License: CC BY-SA 4.0
2.Photo source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kbhargava/8648375984/ (cropped)
Photo author: Kishore Bhargava | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 11/4/17
3.Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White-tailed_Lapwing_(Vanellus_leucurus)_(8079438406).jpg (cropped)
Photo author: Ron Knight | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 11/4/17
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The family Charadriidae was first introduced by William Elford Leach, MD, FRS (2 February 1791 – 25 August 1836), an English zoologist and marine biologist, in the year 1820. The family Charadriidae comprises two subfamilies, Vanellinae (two genera) and Charadriinae (eight genera).
The subfamily Vanellinae was first described by Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte, (24 May 1803 – 29 July 1857), a French biologist and ornithologist, in the year 1842. The subfamily Vanellinae comprises two genera, namely, Erythrogonys and Vanellus.
The genus Vanellus was first described by Mathurin Jacques Brisson (30 April 1723 – 23 June 1806), a French zoologist and natural philosopher, in the year 1760.
The species Vanellus gregarius (as Charadrius gregarius) was first described by Peter Simon Pallas (22 September 1741 – 8 September 1811), a German zoologist and botanist, in the year 1771.
The sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) belongs to the family of plovers, dotterels and lapwings, Charadriidae.
The sociable lapwing species is distributed in India, Pakistan, central and southwest Asia, Arabian Peninsula and northeast Africa. This lapwing species is listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered. These lapwings are monotypic species.
Appearance, physical description and identification
The sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) is a medium-sized lapwing, measuring 25 to 30 cm in length and weighing 150 to 260 grams. The wingspan is 65 to 75 cm.
The adult sociable lapwing has olive brown (winter) or grayish (summer) upperparts with striking scalloped patterns. The crown is blackish brown. They have bold pale buff or whitish supercilium meeting on forehead and nape.
The thin blackish brown lore extends up to nape in these lapwings. The throat, neck and breast are pale with dark brown streaking. The belly is pale chestnut. The undertail is whitish. The tail is white with black terminal band. Juvenile lapwing has brown back with slight scalloped pattern.
The bill of these species is thin and black. The irises are blackish brown. The legs are long and black. The lapwing call is a harsh "kretsch..kretsch" and a rapid chattering sound.
1.Birds of India - Image of Sociable lapwing - Vanellus gregarius by Cks3976
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2.Indian birds - Picture of Sociable lapwing - Vanellus gregarius by Sanjeev Kumar Goyal
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Origin, geographical range and distribution
The sociable lapwing species are distributed in northwest India, southern Pakistan, Arabian Peninsula, northeast Africa and central Asia.
The breeding populations of sociable lapwings are distributed in northern Kazakhstan and southern central Russia. Breeding and wintering populations have expatriated or have become extinct in several regions.
Wintering sociable lapwings are distributed in northwest India, southern Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
In India, wintering lapwings are distributed in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Passage birds are observed in several stopover sites in between the breeding and wintering ranges.
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of the sociable lapwing species in Azerbaijan is Lake Hajigabul. The IBA in Georgia is Chorokhi Delta. The IBA in Iran is Anzali Mordab complex. The IBA in Iraq are Samara Wetlands and Shuweicha Marsh.
The IBA of these lapwing species in India are, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Valmiki Tiger Reserve and Saraiyaman Lake, Dihaila Jheel and wetlands, Flamingo City, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Keoladeo National Park, Naliya Grassland and Kurra Jheel.
Some of the IBA of the sociable lapwing species in Kazakhstan are, Aktubek, Zhusandala, Ulytau Mountains, Tounsor Hollow Lakes, Amangeldy, Shoshkaly Lake, Amankaragay Forest, Sarykopa Lake, Chingiztau Mountains, Emba River, Ertis Ormany and Irgiz-Turgay Lakes.
Ecosystem and habitat
These sociable lapwing species do not normally occur in forest. They normally occur in altitudes from 0 to 300 meters. The artificial ecosystems of these species include rural gardens, cultivated lands and ploughed and stubble fields.
The natural ecosystems and habitats of these sociable lapwing species include dry wastelands, temperate deserts, burnt steppe, savannah, tropical and subtropical dry grasslands, temperate grasslands, steppes, brackish or alkaline lakes and wetlands.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of sociable lapwing consists mainly of insects. Insects, caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, spiders, scorpions and crickets are their primary food.
These lapwings also feed on seeds, grains, leaves and flowers. These species forage on the ground, picking insects and other small prey. Ploughed fields and grasslands are their favorite feeding grounds.
Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of the sociable lapwing species is from April to July in most of their breeding range. These birds are monogamous and breed in small colonies.
The nesting sites of sociable lapwing are usually located near water on bare saline plains or on short vegetation. The nest is a scrape, which may be bare or lined with twigs, grass and pebbles.
The lapwing clutch contains three to four pale buff, ovoid eggs with dark olive brown mottling. The breeding pair take turns to incubate the eggs. The chicks hatch out after 25 days. The parents brood the chicks. The chicks are precocial and are able feed themselves.
Migration and movement patterns
These sociable lapwing species are partially migratory birds. The breeding populations in the northern and central Kazakhstan and south-central Russia disperse and migrate south during August and September.
The wintering populations of sociable lapwings in Sudan, Pakistan, northwest India, Saudi Arabia, Oman and UAE make the return migration to the breeding grounds during March and April. Enroute there are several stopover sites.
Distribution: central and southwest Asia, northwest India, northeast Africa
Diet and feeding habits: insects, caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, cicadas, mantids, spiders, seeds, grains, other plant material
IUCN status listing: Critically Endangered (CR)
Conservation and survival
The global population size of the sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) is estimated to number 16,000 to 17,000 individual birds. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be decreasing.
Throughout its range, the lapwing species is reported to be very rare to locally uncommon. The generation length is 9 years. Its distribution size is about 1,670,000 sq.km.
Habitat alteration and destruction, expanding agricultural and aquaculture activities and hunting are the main threats that are endangering the survival of this lapwing species.
IUCN and CITES status
The sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) has approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable to extinction under the range size criterion, under the population trend criterion and under the population size criterion.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the lapwing species and has listed it as "Critically Endangered".
The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius).
Taxonomy and scientific classification of Vanellus gregarius
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Charadriidae
Subfamily:
-
Genus:
Vanellus
Species:
V. gregarius
Binomial name:
Vanellus gregarius
IUCN status listing:
Critically Endangered
The sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) is often placed under the genus Chettusia.
The family Charadriidae was first described by William Elford Leach, MD, FRS (2 February 1791 – 25 August 1836), an English zoologist and marine biologist, in a guide to the contents of the British Museum published in the year 1820.
The family Charadriidae is divided into two subfamilies (Vanellinae and Charadriinae), ten genera and 66 species. The subfamily Vanellinae was first described by Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte (24 May 1803 – 29 July 1857), a French biologist and ornithologist, in the year 1842.
The subfamily Vanellinae contains two genera, viz., Erythrogonys and Vanellus. The genus Vanellus was first described by Mathurin Jacques Brisson in the year 1760. The genus Vanellus has 24 species classified under it.
The species Vanellus indicus was first described by Pieter Boddaert (1733 – 6 May 1795), a Dutch physician and naturalist, in the year 1783.
Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:
Vanellus indicus
Species:
V. indicus
Genus:
Vanellus
Subfamily:
-
Family:
Charadriidae
Order:
Charadriiformes
Class:
Aves
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia
1.Red-wattled lapwing - Vanellus indicus 257 Photo by Bhadraslg
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3.Red-wattled lapwing - Vanellus indicus Photo by Dr. Raju Kasambe
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5.Red-wattled lapwing - Vanellus indicus Photo by Dattatreya N R
6.Red-wattled lapwing - Vanellus indicus Photo by Karunakar Rayker
7.Red-wattled lapwing - Vanellus indicus Photo by AChawla
8.Red-wattled lapwing - Vanellus indicus Photo by Rathika Ramasamy
