Sociable Lapwing

From Free net encyclopedia

{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Sociable Lapwing | status = Conservation status: Critical | image = sociableplover70.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = Sociable Lapwing, from a
German encyclopedia | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Charadriiformes | familia = Charadriidae | genus = Vanellus | species = V. gregarius | binomial = Vanellus gregarius | binomial_authority = (Pallas, 1771) }} The Sociable Lapwing or Sociable Plover (Vanellus gregarius) is a wader in the lapwing family of birds.

It breeds on open grassland from Iraq into central Asia. Three to five eggs are laid in a ground nest. These birds migrate south in winter to Pakistan and north east Africa. This lapwing is a very rare vagrant in western Europe, where this gregarious bird is usually found with Northern Lapwings. It feeds in a similar way, picking insects and other small prey mainly from grassland or arable.

This attractive medium-sized lapwing has longish black legs and a short black bill. Summer adults have grey backs and breast, dark belly and white undertail. The head has a striking pattern, with a black crown and eyestripe, the latter being bordered above and below with white. The upper neck is ochre. Its longish black legs, white tail with a black terminal band and distinctive brown, white and grey wings make it almost unmistakable in flight. The call is a harsh kereck.

Winter adults have a less distinct head pattern, slightly browner back and breast, and white belly. Young birds have a scaly back, and only vestiges of the head pattern.

In 2004 BirdLife International categorised this bird as critically endangered, due to a rapid population decline for poorly understood reasons. The current population was estimated to be between 600 and 1,800.

[edit]