The lapwing is a sizeable meadow bird measuring about 28 to 31 cm, with a wingspan of 67 to 76 cm. Its weight is between 150 and 300 grams.
The back is straight and dark green in summer with a purple and copper glow, which also applies to the top of the wings up to the tip with the white tips. In winter, the back is greener with yellowish edges to the feathers. The rump is white and has a black spot with a white border at the tip of the tail.
Along the flanks, the lapwing has a black border. The underside of the broad rounded wings are partly white. At the tip, the wing has a white border. From there to a third of the wing, the feathers are coloured black.
The belly is white with an orange patch under the tail. The top of the tail coverts is also orange; when nest scratching, this spot is clearly visible. From breast to throat, the male lapwing has a black band that continues as a black stripe under the eye and across the black short bill. The throat is speckled black and white in the female. On the cheek, the lapwing has a white patch.
The neck is black to grey. The lapwing has a high forehead and a black hood which turns into the black crest characteristic of the lapwing. This crest is shorter in females than in males. In winter, the male's crest is shorter than in summer.
Hello I am Frans Kieckens
After graduating from photography school in Amsterdam, I worked as a home and interior photographer.
Over the years, I have collected a lot of images of all kinds of subjects and I like to share my best ones with you.
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