Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 327 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 chilensis
Where it lives
Widespread inland, Nicaragua to southern Chile and southern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 327 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern 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 Southern Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA widespread inland, Nicaragua to s Chile and s Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 327 g, with a wing length of about 22.6 cm and a tail of around 10.1 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 13.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Lapwing?
The Southern Lapwing is a large bird that weighs around 327 g.
Where does the Southern Lapwing live?
The Southern Lapwing is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA widespread inland, Nicaragua to s Chile and s Argentina, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Southern Lapwing belong to?
The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Southern Lapwing eat?
The Southern Lapwing is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Southern Lapwing migrate?
The Southern Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern 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 Southern Lapwing make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Lapwing — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Lapwing's range?
The Southern Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 13.3 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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