Bird
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Size
28–31 cmAbout the size of a small pigeon
Weight
128–330 gAbout the weight of a large apple
Lifespan
5 years
Rarity
Common
M vs F
Males have a longer crest and bolder black-and-white face pattern; females have a shorter crest and some white in the black face area
Habitat
Farmland, wet grassland, moorland, estuaries — needs bare or short vegetation for nesting
Best time
Year-round; spectacular flocking in winter; displaying on farmland from February
Conservation
UK: Red
LC
💡 Did you know?
The Lapwing's tumbling display flight over farmland in spring, with its 'pee-wit' calls, was once one of the most familiar sights in the British countryside — now a sign of decreasing rarity
Lapwings are a keystone farmland species — their decline of 75% since the 1970s is a direct result of the shift from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereals, which removes their nesting habitat
Often confused with
Golden Plover (golden-speckled
no crest
no iridescent back)
Grey Plover (winter — grey
no crest)
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