|
|
|
White-tailed Lapwing
(Vanellus leucurus)
: "White-tailed Plover"
Size: 26-29 cm
|
|
|
 |
Physical description |
|
 Click here for a physical description
White-tailed Lapwings medium-sized waders.
The head is greyish-brown, with somewhat lighter eye-rings
and lores. Except for white sides, vent, undertail coverts
and an off-white belly the rest of the
plumage
is dark greyish-brown.
When the wings are folded, the white wing bars and black
outer flight feathers are almost invisible. The underwings
are grey, with black outer flight feathers.
The irises are dark. The rather long, straight bill is
near-black.
The very long legs and feet are bright-yellow.
Juveniles
have heavily scalloped upperwing coverts and a streaked crown.
|
 |
Taxonomy, classification |
|
See White-tailed
Lapwing at Wikipedia  .
|
|
 |
Range, habitat |
|
Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the White-tailed Lapwing is available
HERE
.
White-tailed Lapwings are a partially migratory species.
Their breeding range extends from inland marshes in Iraq, Iran
to southern Russia. While the population in Iraq and Iran is
mainly resident, birds breeding in Russia migrate southwards in
winter to the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and North-east
Africa.
In Arabia White-tailed Lapwings are sometimes seen on passage,
but some birds also stay, both during the summers (around the
Persian Gulf) and winters (eastern Arabia), including the
northern coast of Oman.
White-tailed Lapwings are found around both fresh and saline
water, such as marshes, ponds or lakes.
|
 |
Sightings |
|
Click here for sighting information
A White-tailed Lapwing was first seen by us around water puddles
in an otherwise dry riverbed (wadi) at Qurm, near Muscat, Oman,
in December 2009.
|
 |
Photos |
|
 |
ADULT |
|
Distant near-lateral view of a White-tailed Lapwing
[Qurm, December 2009]
Distant near-dorsal view of a White-tailed Lapwing; click on
image to also see other waders
[Qurm, December 2009]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
