Grey-headed Lapwing
Vanellus cinereus
灰头麦鸡
Introduction
The grey-headed lapwing is a medium-sized wader occurring in East and Southeast Asian wetlands. It breeds in temperate wetlands of northeast China and Japan, migrating south to winter in northern Southeast Asia from northeastern India through Cambodia. During the non-breeding season, it forms flocks in wet grasslands, rice fields, and marshland edges. The species has grey head and neck, dark grey breast band, white belly, and black and white wing pattern visible in flight. It produces a sharp 'chee-it' call. Vagrant individuals have been recorded in Australia, Indonesia, and Europe.
Description
This lapwing measures 34-37 cm in length. The plumage features a grey head and neck, a darker grey breast band, and a white belly. The back is brown, the rump is white, and the tail is black. In flight, the wings reveal black primaries, white under wings and upper wing secondaries, with brown upper wing coverts creating a distinctive pattern. Adults of both sexes share similar plumage, though males are slightly larger. Juveniles display white plumage areas tinged with grey, a less defined breast band, and pale fringes on the upperpart and wing covert feathers.
Distribution & Habitat
This species breeds in northeast China and Japan. The mainland population migrates south to winter in northern Southeast Asia, ranging from northeastern India to Cambodia. The Japanese population winters, at least partially, in southern Honshū. Vagrant individuals have been recorded in Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New South Wales, Australia, Telangana, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and England.
Behavior & Ecology
Breeding occurs from April to July in wet grassland, rice fields, and marshland edges. During winter, the species is highly gregarious, gathering in flocks in similar wetland habitats. It feeds in shallow water on insects, worms, and molluscs. The vocalization is a sharp 'chee-it' call.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Genus
- Vanellus
- eBird Code
- gyhlap1
Distribution
breeds inland northeastern China (Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia), and central and southern Japan (Honshu to Kyushu); winters to southern and northeastern India, through southeastern Asia, Malayan Peninsula, Vietnam, and southeastern China
Vocalizations
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.