Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Banded Lapwing

Vanellus tricolor

Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

By family

Plovers of Australia Plovers of New South Wales Plovers of Northern Territory Plovers of Queensland Plovers of South Australia Plovers of Tasmania Plovers of Victoria Plovers of Western Australia

See what's near you right now

The Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 184 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 tricolor

Where it lives

Inland Australia (except northern, west-central) and Tasmania

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 184 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Charadriidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Banded Lapwing is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

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

The Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU inland Australia (except n, wc) and Tasmania.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 184 g, with a wing length of about 19.2 cm and a tail of around 7.8 cm.

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

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.6 million km².

Songs & calls

Banded Lapwing — Call

Recorded by Marc Anderson Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Banded Lapwing?

The Banded Lapwing is a large bird that weighs around 184 g.

Where does the Banded Lapwing live?

The Banded Lapwing is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU inland Australia (except n, wc) and Tasmania, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Banded Lapwing belong to?

The Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Banded Lapwing eat?

The Banded Lapwing is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Banded Lapwing migrate?

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

Is the Banded 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 Banded Lapwing make?

1 real field recording of the Banded 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 Banded Lapwing's range?

The Banded Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 5.6 million km².