Photo: andrewbazdyrev / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sociable Lapwing
Vanellus gregarius
Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 224 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Vanellus
- Species gregarius
Where it lives
Inland northern Kazakhstan and adjacent southern Russia (formerly Ukraine to Xinjiang [northwestern China])
Quick facts
- Weight
- 224 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sociable Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Sociable Lapwing is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL inland n Kazakhstan and adjacent s Russia (formerly Ukraine to Xinjiang [nw China]).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 224 g, with a wing length of about 20 cm and a tail of around 8 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sociable Lapwing?
The Sociable Lapwing is a large bird that weighs around 224 g.
Where does the Sociable Lapwing live?
The Sociable Lapwing is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL inland n Kazakhstan and adjacent s Russia (formerly Ukraine to Xinjiang [nw China]), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Sociable Lapwing belong to?
The Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Sociable Lapwing eat?
The Sociable Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sociable Lapwing migrate?
The Sociable Lapwing is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Sociable Lapwing endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Sociable Lapwing make?
1 real field recording of the Sociable 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 Sociable Lapwing's range?
The Sociable Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 1.1 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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