So Cute Grey-Headed Lapwing Bird
The Grey-headed Lapwing: A Graceful Guardian of Wetlands
The Grey-headed Lapwing is an elegant and distinctive species of wading bird that inhabits the wetlands and farmlands of East and Southeast Asia. Recognized by its unique plumage and sharp calls, this bird plays a subtle yet vital role in the ecosystems it inhabits. While not as widely known as some of its avian counterparts, the Grey-headed Lapwing is a fascinating species worthy of attention for bird watchers, conservationists, and nature lovers alike.
Identification and Appearance
As its name suggests, the Grey-headed Lapwing is easily identifiable by its pale grey head and neck, which contrast sharply with its white belly and dark flight feathers. Adults have a brownish-grey back, a yellow bill tipped with black, and striking yellow legs. When in flight, the bird reveals bold black-and-white wing patterns that are highly characteristic and help distinguish it from other lapwings.
Measuring around 34–37 cm in length, the Grey-headed Lapwing has a relatively long neck and legs, typical of birds that forage in wet, open landscapes.
Habitat and Distribution
The Grey-headed Lapwing breeds mainly in northeastern China and Japan, favoring riverbanks, wet grasslands, and rice paddies for nesting. During the non-breeding season, it migrates south to Southeast Asia, including countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and parts of India. Occasionally, vagrants are spotted farther afield, including in Nepal, Bangladesh, and even Sri Lanka.
It is especially well adapted to human-altered landscapes and is frequently seen in flooded fields, marshes, and agricultural lands, where it finds abundant food and nesting space.
Behavior and Diet
These lapwings are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of invertebrates such as beetles, grasshoppers, worms, and other small creatures found in moist soil or shallow water. They forage actively, walking briskly through fields and wetlands and pecking at prey on the surface or just below it.
| Device | cannon eos 700D |
|---|---|
| Lens | 55-250 zoom leans |
| Location | Bangladesh |
