Photo: A.Savin / FAL (Wikimedia Commons)
Yellow-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus malabaricus
Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 140 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 malabaricus
Where it lives
Southern Indus Valley (south-central Pakistan), inland India to central Assam (except far northern, northeastern), southern Nepal, and Sri Lanka
Quick facts
- Weight
- 140 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Yellow-wattled 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 Yellow-wattled Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) is a species of bird in the Charadriidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR s Indus Valley (sc Pakistan), inland India to c Assam (except far n, ne), s Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 140 g, with a wing length of about 19.2 cm and a tail of around 7.5 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 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Yellow-wattled Lapwing?
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 140 g.
Where does the Yellow-wattled Lapwing live?
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR s Indus Valley (sc Pakistan), inland India to c Assam (except far n, ne), s Nepal, and Sri Lanka, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Yellow-wattled Lapwing belong to?
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Yellow-wattled Lapwing eat?
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Yellow-wattled Lapwing migrate?
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Yellow-wattled 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 Yellow-wattled Lapwing make?
1 real field recording of the Yellow-wattled 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 Yellow-wattled Lapwing's range?
The Yellow-wattled Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 1.9 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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