Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

River lapwing

Vanellus duvaucelii

René-Primevère Lesson, 1826

In Thai: นกกระแตหาด

The river lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) is a lapwing species which breeds from the Indian Subcontinent eastwards to Southeast Asia. It range includes much of northern and northeastern India, and extends through Southeast Asia to Vietnam. It appears to be entirely sedentary. Formerly also called spur-winged lapwing, this name is better reserved for one of the "spur-winged plovers" of old, Vanellus spinosus of Africa, whose scientific name it literally translates. The masked lapwing of Australasia was at one time also called "spur-winged plover", completing the name confusion - particularly as none of these is a plover in the strict sense.

This species resembles the closely related spur-winged lapwing of Africa, and has sometimes been considered conspecific. The species name commemorates Alfred Duvaucel.

Description

The river lapwing is 29–32 cm long. It has a black crest, crown, face and central throat and grey-white neck sides and nape. It has a grey-brown breast band and white underparts with a black belly patch. The back is brown, the rump is white and the tail is black. This is a striking species in flight, with black primaries, white under wings and upper wing secondaries, and brown upper wing coverts.

Adults of both sexes are similarly plumaged, but males are slightly larger than females. Young birds have the brown tips to the black head feathers, a sandier brown back, and pale fringes to the upperpart and wing covert feathers. The call of the river lapwing is a sharp tip-tip or did-did-did.

Behaviour

The breeding display, given on the ground, includes stooping, spinning, stretching and crest-raising.

The river lapwing nests on shingle and sand banks from March to June. It lays two eggs on a ground scrape. It feeds on insects, worms, crustaceans and molluscs in nearby wet grassland and farmland. It is not gregarious.

This article uses material from Wikipedia released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike Licence 3.0. Eventual photos shown in this page may or may not be from Wikipedia, please see the license details for photos in photo by-lines.

Category / Seasonal Status

BCST Category: Recorded in an apparently wild state within the last 50 years

BCST Seasonal statuses:

  • Resident or presumed resident
  • Non-breeding visitor

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Charadriidae
Genus
Vanellus
Species
Vanellus duvaucelii

Common names

  • Thai: นกกระแตหาด

Synonyms

  • Hoplopterus duvaucelii, René-Primevère Lesson (1826)
  • Charadrius duvaucelii, René-Primevère Lesson (1826)

Conservation status

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (BirdLife)

Vulnerable (IUCN3.1)

Vulnerable (ONEP)

Vulnerable (IUCN3.1)

Vulnerable (BCST)

Photos

No photo for this species yet

Range Map

Distribution map of River lapwing, Vanellus duvaucelii in Thailand
  • Bang Pu Recreation Centre
  • Borabue District, Maha Sarakham
  • Bueng Boraped Non-Hunting Area
  • Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai
  • Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai
  • Huai Chorakhe Mak Reservoir Non-Hunting Area
  • Huai Talat Reservoir Non-Hunting Area
  • Kaeng Krachan National Park
  • Kamphaeng Saen District, Nakhon Pathom
  • Kapong District, Phang Nga
  • Khao Lak - Lam Ru National Park
  • Khao Sok National Park
  • Khemarat District, Ubon Ratchathani
  • Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai
  • Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai
  • Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai
  • Mueang Chonburi District, Chonburi
  • Mueang Krabi District, Krabi
  • Mueang Nakhon Pathom District, Nakhon Pathom
  • Mueang Ratchaburi District, Ratchaburi
  • Mueang Surin District, Surin
  • Mueang Tak District, Tak
  • Nong Bong Khai Non-Hunting Area
  • Nong Ya Plong District, Phetchaburi
  • Pa Sang District, Lamphun
  • Pak Thale
  • Pha Taem National Park
  • Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom
  • Salawin National Park
  • Samut Prakan Province
  • Sri Nakarin Dam National Park
  • Sri Phang-nga National Park
  • Takua Pa District, Phang Nga
  • Thalang District, Phuket
  • Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai
Range map of Vanellus duvaucelii in Thailand