Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

Other Scientific Names
Belonopterus chilensis [(Molina, 1782)], Dorypaltus prosphatus [Brodkorb, 1959], Parra chilensis [Molina, 1782]

Other Names (World)
Southern Lapwing, Chilean Lapwing, Tero (Uruguay), Quero-quero (Brazil)

Family
Charadriidae (Plovers)

Size
31 - 38 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Molina, 1782)

Habitat
Short-grazed ranchland, fields, wetlands, tidal flats.

Range (Guide)

Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay (NB), Venezuela.

Vagrant to Barbados, Costa Rica, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Mexico.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 2,000,000 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Gregarious. Often feeds in flocks.

Food
Mainly insects and other small invertebrates. Feeds mainly at night.

Voice
A high-pitched, nasal 'euw-euw-euw...' uttered in flight. A loud, harsh 'keek-keek-keek'.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (122)...)

Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) [XC625531]
by Franco Vushurovich from Finca San Jorge, Morelia\/Caquet\u00e1, Colombia (call, flight call)

Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) [XC470214]
by Cristian Pinto from Villa Traful, Los Lagos, Neuqu\u00e9n, Argentina (call)

Nest
A bare scrape on the ground.

Eggs (Guide)
2 - 3, rarely 4; olive-brown.

Subspecies
Based on proportions and vocalization, might comprise two species, with separation of cayennensis, incorporating lampronotus. However, intergradation known at one locality. Subspecies fretensis sometimes merged with nominate subspecies.

The following 4 subspecies are recognised:

cayennensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789) - Northern South America, north of R Amazon.
lampronotus (Wagler, 1827) - R Amazon south through central, eastern and southern Brazil to northern Chile and northern Argentina.
chilensis (Molina, 1782) - Argentina and Chile south to Chilo� I and Comodoro Rivadavia.
fretensis (Brodkorb, 1934) - Southern Chile and southern Argentina.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) - 10 files

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BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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