White-tailed Lapwing
Vanellus leucurus
白尾麦鸡
Introduction
A wader in the lapwing genus Vanellus. Breeds semi-colonially on inland marshes in Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, and southern Russia. This medium-sized, long-legged lapwing is distinctive as the only lapwing likely to be seen in water deeper than very shallow, where it forages by picking insects and other small prey from the surface. Iraqi and Iranian populations are mainly resident, while Russian breeders migrate south in winter to the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and northeastern Africa. The species faces threats from habitat destruction and unintentional poaching. It is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
Description
A medium-sized, slim and erect wader with notably long yellow legs and a fairly long bill. Adults have a brown back and foreneck, paler face, and grey breast. The wings display a distinctive pattern of brown, white, and black. The most striking feature is the pure white tail. Young birds have a scaly back and may show some brown in the tail. The combination of long yellow legs, pure white tail, and wing pattern makes this species unmistakable.
Identification
The pure white tail and long yellow legs are distinctive field marks. The brown, white, and black wing pattern further aids identification. It is the only lapwing species typically found in water deeper than very shallow. The breeding season call is a 'peewit,' similar to the northern lapwing.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds on inland marshes in Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, and southern Russia. Iraqi and Iranian populations are largely resident. Russian breeders migrate south in winter to the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and northeastern Africa. A very rare vagrant in western Europe, with the first British record at Packington, Warwickshire on 12 July 1975.
Behavior & Ecology
Feeds primarily on insects and other small prey, picked from the water surface rather than by probing. Breeds semi-colonially, laying four eggs in a ground nest on inland marshes. The breeding call is a 'peewit,' similar to that of the northern lapwing. Social behavior includes loose colonial nesting arrangements.
Conservation
Faces threats from habitat destruction and unintentional poaching throughout parts of its range. The species receives international protection under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Genus
- Vanellus
- eBird Code
- whtlap1
Distribution
breeds inland central Türkiye eastward to northwestern Afghanistan and southward from Persian Gulf to southwestern Pakistan; winters to Eritrea and Persian Gulf regions eastward to southwestern Pakistan
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.