The Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), also known as the Northern Lapwing or Peewit is a bird in the plover family. It is common through central and northern Europe, and central Russia.
The name lapwing derives from the "lapping" sound its wings make, while peewit describes the bird's call.
It is a medium-sized black and white bird with rounded wings and a crest, and is to be more commonly found on open land - particularly arable land and mud-flats.
In addition to the (northern) lapwing, the Vanellus (lapwing) genera also includes the following varieties:
- V. albiceps (white-headed plover: Africa)
- V. chilensis (southern lapwing)
- V. cinereus (grey-headed lapwing: Asia)
- V. coronatus (crowned lapwing)
- V. crassirostris (long-toed lapwing: Africa)
- V. duvaucelii (river lapwing or spur-winged lapwing)
- V. indicus (red-wattled lapwing)
- V. miles (masked lapwing or spurwinged plover: Australasia)
- V. spinosus (spur-winged lapwing)
- V. tricolor (banded plover: Aus)
