Red-wattled lapwing

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. Like other lapwings, they are ground birds that are incapable of perching. Their characteristic loud alarm calls are indicators of human or animal movements and the sounds have been variously rendered as did he do it or pity to do it leading to the colloquial name of a did-he-do-it bird. Usually seen in pairs or small groups and usually not far from the water they sometimes form large aggregations in the non-breeding season (winter). They nest in a ground scrape laying three to four camouflaged eggs. Adults near the nest fly around, diving at potential predators while calling noisily. The cryptically patterned chicks hatch and immediately follow their parents to feed, hiding by lying low on the ground or in the grass when threatened.

Scientific Name : Vanellus Indicus

Family : Charadriidae

Order : Charadriiformes

Class : Aves

Type : Plovers And Lapwings

Conservation Status : Least concern (LC)

Size : 32 - 35 cm

Compare Size : Partridge +

Wingspan : 80 - 81 cm

Weight : 180 g

Migratory : Resident

Sex Alike : Yes

Nesting Season : March - August

Other Names :

English : Asian Lapwing, Large Plover

Hindi : टिटहरी, तितीरी

Marathi : टिटवी, ताम्रमुखी टिटवी

Habitat:
Open Country, Puddles, Grazing lands, Tanks

Breeding:
Eggs - 4, Stone colour or greyish brown, peg-top shaped

Feeding:
Insects, Snails, Other invertebrates, Grains, Grubs


Identification Features

Male & Female
Wing light-brown with a purple to green sheen
Back light-brown with a purple to green sheen
Head black
Nape black
Throat has black patch called bib
Auriculars or Ear Patches or ear coverts white
Neck sides of the neck white flaning the white belly and white ear coverts
Belly white
Vent white
Tail white tiped black
Lores has red fleshy wattle
Bill red tiped black
Legs yellow and long
Primaries black
Upperwing coverts some of the wing converts; prominently seen as white bar on wings when in flight

Gallery

SIGHTINGS

Date Location
2018-12-16 16 Dec 2018 Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2019-01-31 31 Jan 2019 Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan
2019-02-01 01 Feb 2019 Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan

Similar Birds

(Plovers And Lapwings)