Photo: Zieger M / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Long-toed Lapwing (Vanellus crassirostris) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Kenya Birds of Tanzania Birds of South Africa

By family

Plovers of Kenya Plovers of Tanzania Plovers of South Africa

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The Long-toed Lapwing (Vanellus crassirostris) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 170 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae Plovers
Genus Vanellus
Species crassirostris

Where it lives

Inland west-central, eastern, southeastern Africa

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 170 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Charadriidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Long-toed Lapwing hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Long-toed Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Long-toed Lapwing (Vanellus crassirostris) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF inland wc, e, se Africa.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 170 g, with a wing length of about 20.9 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.5 million km².

Songs & calls

Long-toed Lapwing — Call

Recorded by Jonathan Onongo Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Long-toed Lapwing?

The Long-toed Lapwing is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 170 g.

Where does the Long-toed Lapwing live?

The Long-toed Lapwing is found across Africa with a range covering AF inland wc, e, se Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Long-toed Lapwing belong to?

The Long-toed Lapwing (Vanellus crassirostris) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Long-toed Lapwing eat?

The Long-toed Lapwing hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Long-toed Lapwing migrate?

The Long-toed Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Long-toed Lapwing endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Long-toed Lapwing make?

1 real field recording of the Long-toed Lapwing — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Long-toed Lapwing's range?

The Long-toed Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 3.5 million km².