Red Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Charadriidae
Genus	Vanellus
Species	indicus

Common Name

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is also called Asian lapwing commonly. In Urdu (Pakistan’s national language) it is called as Teteeri.

Did he, do it?

They are extremely noisy, and their distinctive loud alarm calls are indications of human or animal movement. The sounds have been variously interpreted as “did he do it or pity to do it,” giving rise to the common name of did-he-do-it bird. Its stunning appearance is complemented by its loud and scolding did-he-do-it call, which is delivered both during the day and at night.

Name Origin and meaning

“Lapwing”. It is a short of vanus, which means “winnowing” or “fan” in Latin.

I remember when I was little, my father bought bird paintings made by Chinese artists and there were a lot of lapwings drawn on them. Also, my mother took handmade fan, which is used in Chine’s culture, there were a lot of lapwings painted over them too.

The lapwings are ground birds that are incapable of perching. There feet are not designed for perching. They like to live near water source where they lay eggs and feed.

Geographical Range

The Red Wattled Lapwing is a magnificent bird that is present all over the world. It breeds from West Asia (Iraq, SW Iran, Persian Gulf) to South Asia (Baluchistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the entire Indian subcontinent up to Kanyakumari and up to 1800m in Kashmir/Nepal), with another subspecies in Southeast Asia. May migrate altitudinally in spring and autumn (e.g., in N. Baluchistan or NW Pakistan), and spreads out broadly during the monsoons due to the formation of necessary habitats, but populations are mostly resident. This species is diminishing in its western range but abundant in most of South Asia, where it can be found in practically any wetland habitat.

Appearance

This fascinating bird is known for its distinctive red wattles and its long, pointed beak. They are often seen in open fields, wetlands, and grasslands, foraging for food or nesting.

The Red Wattled Lapwing is a striking bird with a long and pointed yellow beak, a chestnut-brown head, neck, and underparts, a black crown, nape, and back, and white wing-spots. They have distinctive red wattles above each eye that hang down in front of their beaks, giving them their name. The long legs are grey green in color and end in bright yellow toes. Males and females look alike, but the males tend to be slightly larger than the females. The Red Wattled Lapwing is between 35 cm (14 in) in length.

The wings and back are light brown with a purple to green sheen, but the head, bib on the front and back of the neck, and tail are all black. Between these two colors, a prominent white patch extends from belly to tail, bordering the neck to the sides of the crown. The short tail has a black tip. A red fleshy wattle in front of each eye, a black-tipped red bill, and yellow long legs. Males and females are similar in plumage, but males have a longer wing and size is big. Also, males have a 5% longer wing and tend to have a longer carpal spur. The length of the birds is 320–350 mm, wing of 208–247 mm.

Sub species

According to Wiki articles it is has 4 subspecies slight differences in the plumage.

• Vanellus indicus lankae (Koelz, 1939) – Sri Lanka
• Vanellus indicus aigneri (Laubmann, 1913) – southeast Turkey to Pakistan
• Vanellus indicus atronuchalis (Jerdon, 1864) – northeast India to south China, southeast Asia, Malay Peninsula and north Sumatra
• Vanellus indicus indicus (Boddaert, 1783) – central Pakistan to Nepal, northeast India and Bangladesh

Where is Red Wattled Lapwing found?

It usually lives near well-watered open country, ploughed fields, grazing land, and margins and dry beds of tanks and puddles. After wheat is cut its breeding season starts usually from March to August. It normally lives in groups of two or three in well-watered open area, ploughed fields, grazing land, and tank and puddle margins and dry beds. They produce big flocks of 26 to 200 birds on occasion. It’s also found in forest clearings around rainy depressions. They are known to feed at night, especially near the full moon. This bird is active both in day and at night and is the first to notice incursions and raise an alarm, making it a nuisance to predators and hunters.

Diet and Feeding Habits

The Red Wattled Lapwing is an omnivore bird, which means it eats both plants and animals. It feeds mostly on invertebrates such as insects, earthworms, and spiders, as well as grains and berries. Their principal food sources are beetles, ants, termites, grasshoppers, crickets, butterflies, insect imagoes, insect larvae, tiny gastropods, crustaceans, and worms. These birds may also consume grains. They primarily feed throughout the day but may also feed at night. They may occasionally use their legs to disturb insect prey in soft soil. This bird prefers to forage in open areas, wetlands, and near rivers. The Red Wattled Lapwing will stroll across the ground while pecking at any little insects or plants that they come upon while foraging. They have also been observed hopping to gain access to food in thick grasses. During the breeding season, parents feed insects and plant debris to their offspring.

The Red Wattled Lapwing is an important part of the local ecosystem by helping to keep insect populations in check. As such, it is vital that their habitat and foraging areas are protected to ensure that this bird species continues to thrive.

Reproduction and Mating dance

The breeding season mainly starts from March to August. But it may differ geographically.

The Red Wattled Lapwing is most well-known for its spectacular courtship antics. Male Red Wattled Lapwings will execute a lovely dance to woo a mate during the mating season. The male will stretch his wings, raise his crest, and flail around in circles while spreading his wings and raising his crest. As part of the intricate process, he will blow up his chest and nod his head. He will make quick twists as he flies to show off his agility and prowess. These performances are typically held near water sources or at the edge of a field where females can watch. The male then shuffles around the female. Several males may display to females, and they may be close together. The female selects a mate depending on the skill and energy shown throughout the dance.

Nest and eggs

Red Wattled Lapwings reproduce by building a nest on the ground, typically in open fields or grasslands. The nest is typically lined with vegetation, animal hair and sometimes feathers. Nests are difficult to locate since the eggs are cryptically colored and often resemble the ground pattern. They sometimes nest on roof tops in residential areas. It has been observed breeding on the stones between the rails of a railway track, with the adult leaving the nest when trains pass.

Nests that were threatened by agricultural operations were physically

relocated by relocating the eggs gradually. They will attempt to dive bomb or distract possible predators when breeding. Red Wattled Lapwings lay 2-4 eggs that are cream or buff-colored with brown spots. Both male and female lapwings take turns incubating the eggs for around 20-22 days until they hatch.

Red Wattled Lapwings chick camaflouge

Chicks hatch after 28 to 30 days. Chances of egg survival is only 20% as when laid they are often broken by, stepped over by human or big grazing mammals or eaten by animals like mongoose, snakes, dogs and falcons.

Parents make a lot of noises when the spot you near their nest. Chicks are too intelligent as when watching predators, they lie still on the ground so they cannot be spotted. Also, their colour resembles the ground so they are amazingly camaflouged.

 

Both parents feed them with insects, small invertebrates, and worms. The chicks are able to fly within 4-6 weeks. Chicks are taken care for about 1 month after 40 to 50 days they are free to live by their own.

Conservation Status

The Red Wattled Lapwing is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. It has a large range, with populations that are believed to be stable. While there may be some localized declines due to habitat loss or hunting, the species is still abundant in many areas.

Average Life span

Red Wattled Lapwing lifespan is around 8 to 10 years.

Natural Predators

Their natural predators include kites, eagles, foxes, jackals, mongoose and snakes. Human also hunt them with the help of their falcons and kites.

Interesting Facts

1. The Red Wattled Lapwing is one of the most vocal birds, making loud and distinctive calls during the breeding season. They are also known as ‘did-he-do-it’ birds because of their repeated call, which sounds like they are asking the question “did he do it?”
2. The species is a good indicator of wetland health and can be seen in agricultural fields and on roadsides during the non-breeding season. They often forage together in small flocks.
3. The Red Wattled Lapwing is an important species in Hindu mythology. It is believed that Lord Krishna killed a demon called Bakasura after being chased by a flock of these birds.
4. They are highly territorial and will aggressively protect their breeding grounds from intruders. To do this, they often perform aerial displays with a series of dives, swoops and loops.
5. Red Wattled Lapwings often roost in large numbers at night. When disturbed, they take off in a screaming flock. This phenomenon is known as a ‘field panic’.
6. Lapwings soak their belly feathers to provide water to their chicks as well as to cool the eggs during hot weather.

   

7. They may rest on the ground with the tarsi flat on the ground, or they may rest on one leg.
8. Adult birds have few predators and can fly quickly and agilely when pursued by hawks or falcons.
9. The Red Wattled Lapwing has an intricate alarm call system that will alert other members of its species to potential danger. This call is so distinct that other bird species have been known to respond to it as well.
10. Another amazing fact about the Red Wattled Lapwing is its mating dance. This stunning display involves the male fanning his wings and flapping his tail while emitting a loud “kwak-kwak” sound. During this courtship ritual, the female will typically choose the more impressive dancer to be her mate.
11. The Red Wattled Lapwing is also a highly social species and will often form flocks of hundreds of birds. They are quite adaptable and can be found in various habitats from dry open fields to wetlands.

References

• Red-wattled lapwing – Wikipedia
• BirdLife International. Vanellus indicus (Europe assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T22694013A166267347. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22694013A166267347.en. Accessed on 20 January 2023.