Observations on Yellow-Wattled Lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783) in South West Bengal, India

Abstract

The present note highlights the geographical distribution of Yellow-Wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus, which is rarest among the four Vanellus species found in south West Bengal. Perhaps, due to low encounter of V. malabaricus, the distribution of this species in south West Bengal remains obscured till now. Recent field observations in eight patches in the Gangetic plains of (Hooghly and Nadia) West Bengal, India, support their consistent availability in habitats characteristically different from the described ones. In the Indian subcontinent, including peninsular India, V. malabaricus is reported to prefer dry and arid lands, whereas the same species was located in rice fields and adjacent bushes in the Gangetic plains. As possible adaptive features, some characteristic behaviour is discussed that make them compatible with the local climatic condition of Gangetic plains of West Bengal, India.

Unveiling nesting strategies: Investigating visual concealment and nest-site selection in Yellow-wattled Lapwings,Vanellus malabaricus(Boddaert, 1783)

“…It is essential to consider that the insects sampled may not fully represent the entire diet of the birds. The birds may be also consuming other invertebrates like millipedes (Mukherjee et al, 2015), which could contribute to the overall food abundance observed in our study. Further studies are needed to elucidate the intricate interactions between food availability, competition, and nest success in Yellow-wattled Lapwings.…”

“…The Yellow-wattled Lapwing is an elegantly long-winged plover with brown plumage, and distinct yellow wattles and legs (Figure 1) (Grimmett et al, 2016). It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and can be commonly observed across the entire region (Ali & Ripley, 1983;Mukherjee et al, 2015;Grimmett et al, 2016). Yellow-wattled Lapwings breed during the dry season, typically between March and May in India (Jayakar & Spurway, 1965a).…”

“…Kumar & Kanaujia, 2015;C. Kumar, 2015;Mukherjee et al, 2015;Chavan et al, 2016;Greeshma & Jayson, 2018).…”

Temporal pattern in foraging behaviour of Vanellus malabaricus in relation to different seasons and habitats

“…The term "lapwing" refers to their wavering flight and "walk-haltwalk" movement, which transforms into a "run-halt-tilt" forward-ground pricking" action during feeding. 2 They have long legs, rounded wings, a fairly large head and a short straight bill. 3,4 Even though the yellow-wattled lapwing is regularly seen in a range of habitat types in the Indian subcontinent, including bare ground, dry stubbles, fallow fields and the edges of wetlands, 5 it is less reliant on aquatic water bodies.…”

“…The term “lapwing” refers to their wavering flight and “walk-halt-walk” movement, which transforms into a “run-halt-tilt” forward-ground pricking” action during feeding. 2 They have long legs, rounded wings, a fairly large head and a short straight bill. 3,4…”