Grey-headed Lapwing

Grey-headed Lapwing
This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Vanellus cinereus

Malay Name: Ceriwit Kepala Kelabu

Chinese Name: 灰头麦鸡

Range: Found from eastern Siberia to Japan, northeastern and eastern China, wintering to southern China, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 34-37 cm

Identification: Adult has brownish upperparts, brownish-grey head, neck and upper breast with blackish breast-band, black-tipped yellowish bill, white belly and yellowish legs. Juvenile resembles adult but head, neck and breast more brownish and breast-band vague or absent.

Similar looking species: Red-wattled Lapwing

Habitat: Rice fields, swampy/marshy areas and mudflats.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Very rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Featured reports: Feb 2023, Mar 2023

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024 (all records)
Peak weeks Nov 12-Nov 18, Dec 10-Dec 16, Dec 17-Dec 23 (1 more)
Early date 17 Oct 2007
Late date 11 Mar 2023
The recent discovery of hundreds of Grey-headed Lapwings wintering on coastal sites in northern Sumatra suggests this species may be a relatively frequent but underdetected vagrant to Singapore.
Juvenile Grey-headed Lapwing at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Grey-headed Lapwing at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Grey-headed Lapwing at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Grey-headed Lapwing at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Adult Grey-headed Lapwing at Bidor, Malaysia. Photo Credit: Chong Boon Leong

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Gray-headed Lapwing)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Vanellus cinereus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22694010A93433492.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Lim, K. S. (2009). The Avifauna of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore).

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Grey-headed Lapwing. Retrieved on December 17, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/grey-headed-lapwing.

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