During the breeding season, lapwings favour upland areas, spring sown cereals, root crops, permanent unimproved pasture, meadows and fallow fields, as well as wetlands with short vegetation. In winter they move to pasture and ploughed fields.
The lapwing has a striking appearance; it’s back is iridescent green-black, it’s face and underparts are white and it has an eye-catching crest on it’s head.
The Lapwing is also known as ‘peewit’ for it’s display calls. It’s scientific name, ‘Vanellus Vanellus’ is derived from the Latin ‘vannus’ meaning a ‘winnowing fan’ in reference to it’s flopping flight. The common name ‘Lapwing’ also comes from the bird’s flight style. The collective noun for a group of Lapwings is a ‘deceit’; this originates from the idea that Lapwings are deceitful and treacherous.
