Photo: Elşad İbrahimov / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-tailed Lapwing
Vanellus leucurus
White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 132 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 leucurus
Where it lives
Inland central Turkey and eastern Azerbaijan to northern Caspian Sea, southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and northwestern Afghanistan; south to northern Jordan and Persian Gulf to southwestern Pakistan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 132 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-tailed Lapwing hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-tailed Lapwing is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) is a member of the Charadriidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL inland c Turkey and e Azerbaijan to n Caspian Sea, s Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and nw Afghanistan; s to n Jordan and Persian Gulf to sw Pakistan.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 132 g, with a wing length of about 17.1 cm and a tail of around 7.4 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 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-tailed Lapwing?
The White-tailed Lapwing is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 132 g.
Where does the White-tailed Lapwing live?
The White-tailed Lapwing is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL inland c Turkey and e Azerbaijan to n Caspian Sea, s Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and nw Afghanistan; s to n Jordan and Persian Gulf to sw Pakistan, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-tailed Lapwing belong to?
The White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the White-tailed Lapwing eat?
The White-tailed Lapwing hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-tailed Lapwing migrate?
The White-tailed Lapwing is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-tailed 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 White-tailed Lapwing make?
1 real field recording of the White-tailed 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 White-tailed Lapwing's range?
The White-tailed Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 1.8 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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