Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus) - 13 January 2013 - Hat Chao Samran, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand. Photos © 2013 Joseph Morlan



The upper photo shows the small yellow wattles near the base of the bill. This large distinctive lapwing is a winter visitor to freshwater wetlands and rice fields from breeding grounds in NE China and Japan. In breeding plumage, the head and neck are grayer, lacking the brownish wash visible in this winter plumage bird.

The lower image shows the dark band across the breast, difficult to see in the tall vegetation and often obscured. The yellowish legs are partly visible. The English name is sometimes spelled "Grey-headed Lapwing" following British usage.

Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LX5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA |hand-held (no adapter).
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