Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
About This Species
A large, boldly patterned plover of open grassland, pastures, wetland margins and even urban parks and airports across much of South America, it is conspicuous and often approachable, standing upright on long legs in short vegetation. Its loud, ringing alarm calls, given in noisy aerial display especially near a nest, make it one of the easiest waders to locate by ear. It is present year-round through most of its range and is most demonstrative during the breeding season, when pairs defend territory vigorously against anything that comes near.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- This species famously mobs intruders, including people, when a nest or chicks are nearby, so retreating calmly if adults begin diving or calling loudly is the best way to reduce stress on the birds without needing to identify the exact nest location.
- Wildlife protection law differs across its many range countries in South America, so no single distance or statute applies uniformly, but avoiding open ground where birds are displaying and giving way if approached aggressively is a sound general practice.
- Because eggs and chicks are ground-laid and well camouflaged, walking carefully around known nesting areas, especially in short grass or bare ground, helps avoid accidental harm.
LCAvesCharadriiformesCharadriidae
Seasonal Activity
1,213,636 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Charadriidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.