Photo: Roger Culos / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 181 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Vanellus
- Species indicus
Where it lives
Widespread eastern Turkey, Iraq, northeastern Arabian Pen., southern Turkmenistan, Afghanistan to northwestern India and Sri Lanka, east to southwestern China, Malay Pen. and northern, southern Vietnam
Quick facts
- Weight
- 181 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-wattled Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Red-wattled Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR widespread e Turkey, Iraq, ne Arabian Pen., s Turkmenistan, Afghanistan to nw India and Sri Lanka, e to sw China, Malay Pen. and n, s Vietnam.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 181 g, with a wing length of about 20.9 cm and a tail of around 10.4 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 7.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-wattled Lapwing?
The Red-wattled Lapwing is a large bird that weighs around 181 g.
Where does the Red-wattled Lapwing live?
The Red-wattled Lapwing is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR widespread e Turkey, Iraq, ne Arabian Pen., s Turkmenistan, Afghanistan to nw India and Sri Lanka, e to sw China, Malay Pen. and n, s Vietnam, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Red-wattled Lapwing belong to?
The Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Red-wattled Lapwing eat?
The Red-wattled Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-wattled Lapwing migrate?
The Red-wattled Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-wattled 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 Red-wattled Lapwing make?
1 real field recording of the Red-wattled Lapwing — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-wattled Lapwing's range?
The Red-wattled Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 7.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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