Vanellus chilensis
The Southern Lapwing, *Vanellus chilensis*, is a striking and vociferous shorebird, instantly recognizable across much of South America. Averaging 30-35 cm (12-14 in) in length with a wingspan of 70-80 cm (28-31 in) and weighing 250-425 g (8.8-15.0 oz), its plumage features a distinctive grey-brown back, white belly, and a bold black breast band extending to a black cap and prominent crest. Key identification marks include a bright red eye-ring, short red bill with a black tip, and most notab...
This highly adaptable species thrives in open, short-grass environments, including pastures, agricultural fields, lawns, parks, and the edges of wetlands or mudflats, from sea level up to 4,000 meters in the Andes.
Primarily insectivorous, their diet consists mainly of beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and other insects, along with earthworms and various small invertebrates, often supplemented by some plant material.
Southern Lapwings are diurnal, often foraging actively during the early morning and late afternoon, and roosting communally at night in open areas. Their foraging strategy primarily involves walking slowly, pausing, and then rapidly pecking at the ground or probing shallowly for prey, often using...
The Southern Lapwing boasts a wide and robust distribution across much of South America, extending from the northern reaches of Colombia and Venezuela, through the Guianas, southward across Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Argentina, down to Tierra del Fuego. While largely r...
Least Concern
- The Southern Lapwing is the national bird of Uruguay, known locally as the 'Tero'. - It possesses sharp, reddish carpal spurs on the bend of its wings, which it actively uses in defense against predators or perceived threats. - This species is remarkably adaptable, commonly found in urban parks...