Species Guide: Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Family: Charadriidae
The Northern Lapwing often called the lapwing or “peewit,” is a striking, crested wader native to temperate Eurasia. It breeds across much of Europe and Asia and is partially migratory: many birds move south or to coasts for the non-breeding season. The species is culturally familiar in many parts of Europe but has experienced substantial population declines in recent decades, making its conservation status a focus for many conservation groups.
Appearance
Male
Adult males are unmistakable in breeding plumage: a glossy, iridescent green-black back, a contrasting black breast, bright white underparts, a pale face with dark markings, and a long, thin crest on the crown. In flight, they show broad, rounded wings and a characteristic wobbling/rolling display.
Female
Females resemble males but usually have a shorter crest, slightly duller or less sharply-defined facial markings and breast, and overall subtler contrast. Sexes are similar outside the breeding season.
Juvenile
Juveniles are duller overall, with shorter crests and more scaly or patterned upperparts. Their markings are more dappled than the adult Lapwings. Juveniles rapidly gain mobility: chicks leave the nest and run soon after hatching.
Diet
Northern Lapwings are predominantly insectivorous. They feed mainly on invertebrates. Earthworms, beetles, larvae, spiders, and other soft-bodied animals. Taken from the soil surface or shallow probing. Foraging techniques include walking and pecking, and sometimes “foot-trembling” to expose hidden prey. In winter or in poor conditions, they may supplement with seeds and plant material.
Habitat
Lapwings prefer open habitats with short vegetation and soft ground: marshes, wet meadows, pasture, coastal flats, and agricultural fields (especially spring-sown crops and short grass). They nest on the ground in shallow scrapes and require relatively undisturbed open areas to breed successfully. Their use of farmland means agricultural change has large effects on populations.
Summer
Resident
Winter
Behavior
Males perform spectacular aerial displays in spring, tumbling, rolling, and diving, to attract mates and defend territories. They are highly territorial during the breeding season and vocal and aggressive in nest defense, often mobbing intruders. In flight, the lapwing’s broad, rounded wings and slow wingbeat are distinctive.
Call
The common name “peewit” mimics the plaintive, two-note display call (often transcribed as “pee-wit” or “pee-ooit”), a high, thin, piercing note used during display and alarm.
Life cycle
Chicks: Precocial. Able to run and feed soon after hatching; both parents care for and defend young. Some birds form loose flocks outside the breeding season.
Breeding season: Typically spring to early summer (varies by latitude; often March–June).
Nesting: Shallow ground scrape; clutch usually 3–4 speckled eggs.
Incubation: Both parents incubate; incubation lasts around 21–28 days.
Biometrics2
| Length | 28-31cm |
| Wing Span | 82-87 cm |
| Body Weight | 140-320 grams |
| Longevity | 5 Years |
Natural Predators
Predators of eggs, chicks, and occasionally adults include red foxes, corvids (carrion crows, magpies), mustelids, and some raptors when chicks are exposed. Predation pressure, especially on ground nests, can be a major driver of breeding failure. Predator control and habitat management are two approaches that have been trialed to raise nesting success on farmland.
Relationship to Humans
Lapwings have a long-standing place in human culture and folklore across Europe:
Agriculture: Because they nest on farmland, lapwings were once a common sight on mixed farms; intensification of agriculture has changed that. They are familiar to birdwatchers and farmers, and local conservation schemes sometimes work directly with farmers to create nesting plots.
Common names and onomatopoeia: “Peewit” (from its call) and many local names reflect its presence in farmland life.
Folklore and fable: Lapwings appear in collections of European fables and folk beliefs, often associated with omens or tales that link their behavior to weather or fate. Older natural history and folklore collections record lapwing stories and symbolic uses.
Conservation Status
Global status: The Northern Lapwing is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List (reflecting significant long-term declines in parts of its range), with population decreases driven primarily by agricultural intensification, loss of wet grassland, drainage, and disturbance.
Regional status: In some countries (e.g., the UK), the species is on national Red Lists and is a priority farmland bird because of steep declines; conservation groups highlight its ongoing vulnerability. Numbers have declined across large parts of Europe over recent decades.
Key threats:
- Predation increases in some landscapes and during breeding
- Conservation actions include habitat restoration, agri-environment schemes (uncropped plots, delayed mowing), predator management trials, and monitoring.
- Agricultural intensification (loss of nesting habitat, switch to autumn-sown crops, higher stocking rates, spring cultivation).
- Drainage and loss of wetlands and rough grassland
U.K.
Conservation Status
Global
Conservation Status
Ad Space
References
- Lovette, I. et al. (2016) The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, handbook of bird biology. Third edition. Chichester: Wiley. [Accessed 15/10/2025]
CITATIONS
- By IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, species assessors and the authors of the spatial data., CC BY-SA 3.0, [Accessed 11/11/2025] ↩︎
- RSPB [Accessed 11/11/2025] ↩︎
