Lapwing (subfamily)

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Lapwings
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Lapwing ( Vanellus vanellus )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Plover-like (Charadriiformes)
Family : Plover (Charadriidae)
Subfamily : Lapwings
Scientific name
Vanellinae
Linnaeus , 1758
Masked Lapwing ( Vanellus miles )
Northern lapwing ( Vanellus spinosus )

The lapwing are a subfamily of the plover (Charadriidae) within the order of the plover-like (Charadriiformes).

Appearance

Representatives of this subfamily are large and quite showy waders. Many species have feather hoods such as the lapwing , which also breeds in Central Europe , some have colorful facial appendages such as the masked lapwing .

Black hand wings are typical of lapwing. Many species have a wide, white band diagonally across the wing. With the exception of the white-tailed lapwing , the tails of the representatives of this subfamily are also strikingly black and white. Many species also have rounded and broad wings.

Distribution and number of species

Lapwings occur almost worldwide with the exception of North America and the Pacific Islands . A total of 24 species are described. Six species breed in the western Palearctic . Only one species breeds in Central Europe, namely the lapwing. Another species, the black-winged lapwing, is occasionally seen in south-eastern Europe. However, it is a typical and common bird of the fauna of the Near East .

habitat

Lapwings prefer to stay in open terrain. They often live on the edge of lakes, rivers, and wetlands. However, they can also be found on cultivated land such as meadows and fields . Occasionally they can be seen in large schools.

Systematics

The subfamily includes five genera and about 27 species.