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Guide to North American Birds

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Breeding adult female. Photo: Marthade Jong Langtik/Flickr (CC-BY-NC-ND-2.0)

Northern Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Lapwings are large plovers, often with crests, and various kinds are found in most parts of the world except North America. They are often more at home in open fields than on shorelines. This species is common in Europe and Asia; it rarely wanders to eastern Canada or the northeastern United States. Such strays usually occur singly, but on a few occasions, major winter storms have brought small invasions.
Family Plovers
Lapwings are large plovers, often with crests, and various kinds are found in most parts of the world except North America. They are often more at home in open fields than on shorelines. This species is common in Europe and Asia; it rarely wanders to eastern Canada or the northeastern United States. Such strays usually occur singly, but on a few occasions, major winter storms have brought small invasions.
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Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
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Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds

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