Echoes of Nature
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Vanellus indicus, FAMILY: Charadriidae
Red Wattled Lapwing
AKA: Titvi, Tamramukhi Titvi
LENGTH
WINGSPAN
WEIGHT
LIFESPAN
32 - 35 cm
80 - 85 cm
110 - 230 gm
10 - 12 years
LENGTH
32 - 35 cm
WINGSPAN
80 - 85 cm
WEIGHT
110 - 230 gm
LIFESPAN
10 - 12 years
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Widely distributed across West Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Red Wattled Lapwing geographic range map
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List

IUCN RED LIST

Established in 1964, The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups, through criteria such as rate of decline, population size and area of geographic distribution as:

  • Extinct (EX) – This species is no longer extant
  • Extinct in the wild (EW) – Survives only in captivity, or through cultivation often outside native range
  • Critically endangered (CR) – In an extremely critical state
  • Endangered (EN) – Very high risk of extinction in the wild
  • Vulnerable (VU) – At high risk of unnatural (human-caused) extinction
  • Near Threatened (NT) – Close to being endangered in the near future
  • Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant in the wild
  • Data Deficient (DD) – Inadequate information to assess extinction risk
  • Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been assessed
LOCAL PRESENCE
Occassional. Seen at certain times, seasons, or conditions, but not present every day.
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SUB-SPECIES
There are four recognised sub-species of this bird. A sub-species is like a regional version; they belong to the same species but each sub-species may look or live a bit differently.
AREA OF SIGHTING
Kavesar Lake Garden
MIGRATION
The Red Wattled Lapwing is a resident species throughout much of its range. This means it does not migrate for long distances. However, sometimes, groups of this bird may move to lower altitudes like valleys in the winter and returning at the onset of the monsoon. This is called Altitudinally Migration.
ACTIVE TIME
Diurnal and Nocturnal. This means they feed mainly during the day, but sometimes at night too, especially if it's a full moon night.
PLUMAGE

The Red Wattled Lapwing has mostly brown and white feathers with clear patterns on its wings and back. Its upper body is brownish-grey and its belly is white. A bold black band runs across its chest, making it easy to recognize. Both males and females look alike.

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DIET & FEEDING BEHAVIOUR

The Red Wattled Lapwing has a diet that consists mainly of insects, snails and other invertebrates, which are typically foraged from the ground. The lapwing may also consume grains and is known to use its long, slender legs to tap or scratch soft soil to disturb insects. Its short, stout and straight beak is designed for "plover feeding" which means pecking quickly at the ground for insects. Due to their diet, Lapwings helps in managing pest populations, especially for agriculture thereby reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

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HABITAT

The Red Wattled Lapwing likes to live in well-watered open landscapes such as ploughed fields, grazing lands and the peripheries of tanks and puddles. It may also inhabit forest clearings near rain-filled depressions.

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MATING & NESTING
Breeding Season: March to August

Courtship Display: This involving males puffing up feathers and shuffling around females. The female responds with short, quickly repeated calls.

Nest: Lapwings are ground nesting birds. Nesting sites close to water. The nest is a shallow scrape, which may be bare or lined with small stones.

Clutch Size: 3 to 4 eggs are laid and they hatch within 28 to 30 days.
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UPCOMING NATURE TRAILS
DO YOU KNOW?
DO YOU KNOW?
The Lapwing's call is a loud, scolding 'did-he-do-it,' which can be heard both day and night. The call resembles the words "did he do it?" and thus this bird is also colloquial named, the 'Did-he-do-it? Bird.' Vigilant by nature, this bird is often the first to sound an alarm at intrusions into its territory.
DO YOU KNOW?
EARTH CHALLENGE
What is the preferred night for lapwings to feed?