Specie's Page                                               Northern Lapwing - Small Waders

Northern Lapwing:

UK Status: Resident and native to the UK, it's numbers being re-enforced by overwintering birds. Lapwings will on occasion migrate great distances, sometimes as far away as Africa. After severe storms during the annual migrations, Lapwings have turned up as vagrants, as far away as North America.

Habitat: This bird likes farmland, unimproved grasslands, meadows, shallow pools and scrapes and farmland, particularly in fallow fields with short growth. It is well known for it's famous pee-wit vocalisation when in flight. We have a balancing pool near Leeds which is ideal for them, but close access is just about impossible.

Breeding: This bird nests in open areas with short vegetation, that has a good all  around view. The nest is a shallow depression on the ground, lined with plant materials. Usually there are four eggs in a clutch, the eggs are matt stone in colour and mottled with darker brown. Both parents incubate the eggs, and it takes three to four weeks for the eggs to hatch. soon after hatching the parents move with the chicks to richer feeding grounds, especially if they are near water.. There is usually only one clutch per year, but if the first is lost for some reason, they will lay a second.

Comment: This bird is to be found throughout the British Isles in suitable habitats. It has become scarce during the last few decades, mainly due to the mass drainage of wetlands, and marshes. Steps are being taken by national conservation groups to improve and extend existing habitats, and also to create new wetlands.