Southern Lapwing vs White-tailed Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis compared with Vanellus leucurus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Southern Lapwing White-tailed Lapwing
Scientific Name Vanellus chilensis Vanellus leucurus
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae Charadriidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 45.2 cm (17.8 in) 34.3 cm (13.5 in)
Weight 291.5 g (10.28 oz) 145.33333333333334 g (5.13 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 3-4 3-4
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Southern Lapwing only

White-tailed Lapwing only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Southern Lapwing

Least Concern

White-tailed Lapwing

About These Birds

Southern Lapwing

Southern Lapwing: 32–38 cm, the most familiar South American lapwing with a grey head, pinkish-grey upperparts, metallic green wing spurs, and a distinctive crest. Common resident from Colombia south to Patagonia in open grassland, farmland, and urban parks. Insectivorous. Highly vocal and territorial. Expanding its range northward.

White-tailed Lapwing

White-tailed Lapwing: 26–29 cm, elegant lapwing with yellow legs, plain white tail, and no crest or facial adornments. Breeds in freshwater marshes and riverine wetlands from Iraq and Iran east to Kazakhstan; winters in South Asia and East Africa. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates. Partially migratory. Less aggressive than many lapwings.

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