The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) is a wader belonging to the family Charadriidae, within the order Charadriiformes. Its range covers much of South America, from Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas south through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile, reaching Tierra del Fuego. It also occurs in Central America, including Panama and Costa Rica, and has been recorded in parts of southern Mexico and the Caribbean, coinciding with the spread of agricultural land and open pastures. It inhabits open environments such as natural and cultivated grasslands, pastures, riverbanks, wetlands, farmland, and urban spaces.
Adults measure between 32 and 38 centimeters in length and weigh approximately 280 to 425 grams. The head is grey with a thin black nuchal crest. The forehead, throat, and breast are black, separated from the grey of the head by a thin white border. The upperparts and wing coverts are greyish-brown with a subtle bronze or greenish sheen, while the belly is white. The rump is white and the tail shows a broad black band with a white terminal edge. The iris is red, surrounded by a pinkish eye-ring; the bill is reddish with a black tip, and the legs are reddish. In flight, a contrasting tricolor pattern is visible, formed by greyish-brown coverts, a white central band, and black primary flight feathers.
A distinctive anatomical feature of the species is the carpal spur: a pointed bony projection covered by a keratin sheath, located at the wrist joint of each wing. These spurs play an active role in territorial defense and anti-predator deterrence. The species is territorial throughout the year. It nests directly on the ground in a shallow scrape, laying two to five eggs, most commonly three; the chicks are precocial, leaving the nest shortly after hatching. During the breeding season, adults actively defend their territory and offspring through loud alarm calls, low-altitude swooping flights, and direct strikes using the carpal spurs. Its diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates such as earthworms, and occasionally small fish.
• Southern Lapwing
• Tero
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Charadriiformes
Family:Charadriidae
Genus:Vanellus
Species:V. chilensis
Costa Bonita, Rocha, Uruguay
Camera: Canon EOS R7
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
Capture Information:
Focal Length: 600.0 mm
Shutter Speed: 1/1250
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO: 250
Photo Taken: August 30, 2026
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