Lapwing
Lapwings are handsome wading birds, with a broad black breast-band, white underside, iridescent green and purple back and a distinctive wispy crest.
Residents, summer visitors from the Continent (France & Iberia) and winter visitors (from western & central Europe).
At a distance the lapwing appears to be black above and white below. When you look closer the upper parts assume a metallic green and purple sheen, especially in bright light.
The underparts are pure white with rich buff under the tail and a broad black breast band.
The lapwing’s head is crowned with a long thin wispy crest. It has a relatively short bill for a wading bird, as it obtains most of its food from the surface of the ground, but possesses typically long, reddish legs. The lapwing has broad, rounded wings, which it flaps noisily during its dramatic, plunging display flight, giving the bird its common name : Peewit.
In Spring males put on dramatic aerial displays, tumbling through the air, accompanied by their piercing 'peewit’ call.
The aerial tumbling display over their breeding territory is a dramatic sight, and the birds are extremely vocal at this time, giving a range of calls.
While it is widely distributed as a breeding bird in Ireland, its range and population have been declining markedly in recent years.
A beautiful bird to observe both on the ground and in-flight.
Lapwing
Lapwings are handsome wading birds, with a broad black breast-band, white underside, iridescent green and purple back and a distinctive wispy crest.
Residents, summer visitors from the Continent (France & Iberia) and winter visitors (from western & central Europe).
At a distance the lapwing appears to be black above and white below. When you look closer the upper parts assume a metallic green and purple sheen, especially in bright light.
The underparts are pure white with rich buff under the tail and a broad black breast band.
The lapwing’s head is crowned with a long thin wispy crest. It has a relatively short bill for a wading bird, as it obtains most of its food from the surface of the ground, but possesses typically long, reddish legs. The lapwing has broad, rounded wings, which it flaps noisily during its dramatic, plunging display flight, giving the bird its common name : Peewit.
In Spring males put on dramatic aerial displays, tumbling through the air, accompanied by their piercing 'peewit’ call.
The aerial tumbling display over their breeding territory is a dramatic sight, and the birds are extremely vocal at this time, giving a range of calls.
While it is widely distributed as a breeding bird in Ireland, its range and population have been declining markedly in recent years.
A beautiful bird to observe both on the ground and in-flight.