Photo: Rejoice Gassah / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
River Lapwing
Vanellus duvaucelii
River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 143 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Vanellus
- Species duvaucelii
Where it lives
Riverine north-central India to western Yunnan (southwestern China), Thailand to northern Thai-Malay Pen. and northern, southern Vietnam
Quick facts
- Weight
- 143 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The River Lapwing hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The River Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) is a member of the Charadriidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR riverine nc India to w Yunnan (sw China), Thailand to n Thai-Malay Pen. and n, s Vietnam.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 143 g, with a wing length of about 19.4 cm and a tail of around 8.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the River Lapwing?
The River Lapwing is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 143 g.
Where does the River Lapwing live?
The River Lapwing is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR riverine nc India to w Yunnan (sw China), Thailand to n Thai-Malay Pen. and n, s Vietnam, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the River Lapwing belong to?
The River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the River Lapwing eat?
The River Lapwing hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the River Lapwing migrate?
The River Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the River Lapwing endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the River Lapwing make?
1 real field recording of the River 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 River Lapwing's range?
The River Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 1.7 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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