Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Key facts

Gaelic name: Curracag
Orcadian name: Teeick | Shetland name: Peewit / Tieve’s nacket
Length: 28 – 31cm | Wingspan: 82 – 87cm | Weight: 140 – 320g
When in Scotland: Year-round
UK Conservation status: Red
Species on the Edge areas: Solway; Argyll and Inner Hebrides; Orkney; Outer Hebrides; Shetland

Species information

How to identify

From afar, lapwings look black and white with white underwing, rounded wings and long crest on top of head. At a closer distance the back has an iridescent green and purple sheen.

Listen to its call (Credit Patrik Åberg / xeno-canto)

Life cycle

Average lifespan: 4 years.

Lapwings can often be seen wheeling through winter skies in large, black and white flocks. As spring approaches, these flocks get smaller; some birds head back to their continental breeding grounds and others disperse to breed in the UK. Males put on dramatic aerial displays, tumbling through the air, accompanied by their piercing ‘peewit’ call, which gives them their other, common name: peewit. Females can be spotted on their nests, which are simple scrapes in the mud or sand. By late spring, cute, fluffy lapwing chicks can be seen venturing out to forage.

Distribution

Lapwing UK distribution map. Credit: RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/lapwing

Habitat and feeding

Habitat: Farmlands and wetlands

Feeding: Feeds on insects, worms and spiders, but also known to eat small amounts of seeds and grains.

Conservation status

UK Conservation Status: Red

Threats

Lapwing populations started to decline in the mid-19th century attributed to large scale collection of eggs for food. Since then, large-scale changes to farming have led to declines. Such changes to farming include: increase in areas of grassland converted to arable farmland; draining of marginal land; rise in chemical fertilisers and pest control (reduces food availability); and removal of mosaic habitat which they need for breeding, feeding and raising young.

What Species on the Edge is doing

Increasing area of land managed for wading birds
Engaging with landowners, farmers and crofters to encourage management for breeding waders
Monitoring distribution of breeding birds across Islay and Colonsay