Lapwing - description, habitat, interesting facts

The content of the article

1 Habitat
2 Power Features
3 Lifestyle
4 Breeding
5 Related species
6 Video: lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Due to its small size, such a bird as a lapwing, familiar to the majority of inhabitants by the name of a pigfish, is similar to species belonging to orders of passerines and pigeons. The average weight of a lapwing does not exceed 250 g. Often, many confuse it with a siskin, however, these are two completely different species.

The characteristic features of the appearance of this bird include the black tuft located in the back of the head, and expressive eyes. The plumage of a lapwing is multicolored: on the neck and chest is black, on the wings and back - brown-green, the lower part of the body is white. The tail of the lapwing is long, slightly reminiscent of a cock, legs are long in red. The bird has such an original plumage color only during the mating season, but at the usual time the lapwing outfit is not so attractive, mainly the color of the feather is off-white.

The lapwing is one of the first birds returning from the winter hut to the main nesting site, which is why it is popularly called the harbinger of spring. The mating of individuals of this species begins with the onset of heat (May-July), this period in the life of birds is very picturesque, males, to attract individuals of the opposite sex, perform intricate figures in the air, accompanied by a characteristic sweeping whistling.

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Habitat

Lapwing, prefer to choose mostly open spaces for their place of residence. The traditional habitats of this species include meadows, pastures, and lowlands. Often, this bird is found on grassy swamps and in the floodplain of large reservoirs. That is, almost everywhere where there are not too many trees and relatively low grass.

A few decades ago, the nesting ground of the lapwing was a marshland, but as the marshes were drained and arable land expanded, the birds adapted to new living conditions in the natural environment, and settled in fields and meadows, in the immediate vicinity of which water bodies are located.

The nesting area of the species covers almost the whole of Europe, with the exception of the extreme northeast and Greece. Lapwing populations, which have chosen for the nesting lands with rather severe winters, migrate south immediately after breeding. These birds are the very first to arrive in the main habitats after wintering, the preferred habitat is the area near ponds, since it is near them that the majority of insects suitable for food for lapwing are found. Often they fly to the nesting place in flocks and with other birds: starlings, plovers.

Power Features

The basic diet of this species of birds is mainly composed of various small invertebrates, insects and their larvae. Note that the lapwing perfectly adapted to life near a person, while the latter does not prevent them from living nearby. In fact, the lapwing is an assistant for humans, since it is engaged in the destruction of harmful insects in the areas of crops. Nevertheless, the population of this species has declined significantly in recent years, the reason for this is the hunting for lapwing.

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Lifestyle

The restless beggar refers to migratory species of birds. Those representatives of the species who choose the northern region of their habitat for nesting migrate very early on wintering to the regions with a mild and warm climate. Back to the nesting place, the bird returns immediately with the onset of the first heat (early March).

For life, the lapwing chooses places characterized by low grass vegetation (river floodplains, swampy coastal zone of small reservoirs, lowered ponds). In addition to eating insects and invertebrates, it can also eat some berries and seeds of plants.

Closer to the beginning of summer, birds gather in small flocks and begin to wander from place to place in search of a territory rich in food. Moreover, such a nomadic way of life is always carried out in one direction - towards the places of seasonal migration.

Breeding

The breeding season in lapwings begins with the onset of spring, when exactly this will be - at the beginning of the season or in the middle, directly depends on weather conditions and food availability. During mating games, the male begins to fly around the female pigfish, making sounds that attract the attention of the opposite sex.

Watching from outside the mating lapwing games, anyone can note that the process of courtship of a bird for a female pigfish looks very cute and even a little comical. This is due to the fact that the male, in order to attract the attention of the female, uses a variety of methods and, accordingly, achieves the goal.

The nest is built by both birds, after which the female lays eggs (from 2 to 5 pcs.). Male and female hatch their future offspring in turn. Often, nests in bird colonies are located a short distance from each other. Only occasionally do some pairs of lapwing build their nest at some distance from the place of common nesting. After 4 weeks, small chicks of the pigfish hatch from the eggs. Until the young birds become winged and begin to independently obtain food, the parents take care of the food and feed necessary for them. As a rule, young chicks leave the nest in early summer.

Related species

This type of bird as a lapwing includes 24 subspecies of birds of this family, which can be found on almost all continents (with the exception of North America). A characteristic feature of this species are fairly wide wings with a rounding, a short beak, long legs and a plumage contrasting in color.

Interesting fact! In case the youngsters are in danger from predators, a flock of birds unites in order to repulse the enemy and protect their offspring.

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