River Lapwing , Vanellus duvaucelli (Linnaeus)

Photographs taken near Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar, Dist-Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Its size is slightly greater than that of a francolin.It is an obvious cousin of the Red-wattled Lapwing.It is vinous grey and light brown above and on the breast, and white below.Forehead,crown, occipital crest and throat are black bordered with white.A black patch on the abdomen and rump and tail are white with a broad black tip to latter.On ground the hunched posture with the head and neck almost furtively drawn in is a notable feature.In flight a large white patch or bar on the wing , black wing tips and and white pattern on head are the diagnostic features.Both sexes appear alike.


They can be found as pairs or small parties on the sand-banks and shingle beds of large rivers.They are distributed over a large portion of northern and eastern India .They are distributed in the western UP. Nepal, Bhutan, NE states,Bangladesh and Myanmar .Towards south they are distributed in western MP and Andhra Pradesh.Their territory also extends in the Indo-Chinese sub-region.They are not seen in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.Their habitat is almost always the shoals and sand banks in larger rivers.
Their call is a single-noted high-pitched insistent , tee tee tee.

The pointed black horny spur on the bend of the wing could be an effective weapon of offence, but it has not been observed to be so used.
Its nesting season is March to June .The nest is a shallow scrape in the sand on an exposed river bank .Eggs are 3-4 olive stone or yellowish stone , blotched and spotted with shades of brown and black.

This River Lapwing has been photographed near the Rihand dam, Bijpur,Dist-Sonbhadra, UP,India