Northern lapwing

Scientific name: Vanellus vanellus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Distinctive black-and-white plumage with iridescent green-purple upperparts, white underparts, and a characteristic long black crest on the crown. Males are more richly coloured with broader white face patches; females duller with shorter crests.

Size and weight

Males 28–31 cm body length, 190–230 g; females 26–29 cm, 165–210 g.

Habitat

Northern lapwings favour open, wet grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields with short vegetation or bare patches. They prefer lowland areas from sea level to moderate elevations, avoiding dense woodland.

Distribution

Widespread across Europe and Asia, breeding from British Isles east to Japan; winters in southern and central regions. Favours cultivated lowlands and wet grassland across its range.

Diet

Primary diet comprises earthworms, beetles, and other invertebrates gleaned from soil and grass; seasonal variation toward seeds and plant matter in winter.

Behaviour

Highly vocal and conspicuous; diurnal and crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. Nomadic and gregarious, often seen in flocks outside breeding season, with rapid erratic flight and distinctive peewit calls.

Hunting tips

Look for birds in open fields at first light; they are highly wary and vocal, making concealment critical. Approach into the wind across open ground, using natural contours or ditches for cover, or wait near regular feeding areas at dawn. Their conspicuous flight and calls aid location but demand patience and stillness once birds are spotted.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 4 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.