Common name: Sociable Lapwing
Scientific name: Vanellus gregarius
Family: Charadriidae

Size:
Body length: 27–30 cm
Wingspan: 65–72 cm
Weight: 120–250 g

Identification:
A medium-sized lapwing with a distinctive and elegant appearance. It has a sandy-brown back, black belly, and a striking white supercilium that extends from the bill over the eye to the nape. The face pattern is bold, with a dark crown and contrasting pale areas. In flight, it shows a prominent white wing stripe and dark flight feathers.

Habitat:
Open steppe, grasslands, agricultural fields, and semi-arid plains, especially during migration and wintering.

Status in the UAE:
Rare winter visitor. Occasionally recorded in farmland and open plains.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on insects and other small invertebrates.

Behavior:
Often seen in small groups, sometimes forming loose flocks. Forages on the ground by walking and picking prey. Alert and mobile, often moving between feeding areas. Migratory, covering long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.

Conservation status:
Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Global population is estimated at around ≈ 11,200 mature individuals, with a continuing decline due to habitat loss, agricultural changes, and hunting pressure.