Birds · Charadriiformes · Charadriidae
Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
The southern lapwing, known in Spanish as tero or queltehue and also referred to as avefría tero, among other common names, is a species of charadriiform bird that is very widespread in the southern part of South America. Its habitat is flat grassland, which is why it is far more common in the southern part of the American continent than in the north, although it can also be seen in Central America, as far north as El Salvador, as the result of a recent expansion from South America.
Weight
230 g – 430 g
Size
32 cm – 38 cm
Lifespan
15 years
Diet
Insectivore
Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.
Activity
Irregular activity
Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- GeneralNoisy and fiercely territorial: it dive-bombs anything that comes near its nest.
- It is the sentinel of the River Plate countryside: its alarm call at any intruder is so reliable that on the estancias it was said no thief could get in without the teros giving warning.
- It has a sharp horny spur at the bend of each wing that it uses when attacking, and it can injure a dog that comes near the nest.
- It uses distraction: if an intruder comes near the eggs, an adult moves away feigning a broken wing, dragging itself along convincingly until it has drawn the predator well away from the nest.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Grassland, farmland, wetlands, city parks and playing fields of South America
- Sexual maturity
- 12 months
- Gestation / incubation
- 26 days of incubation
- Litter / clutch size
- 4 eggs
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanellus_chilensis
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapWhere to watch it
Parques y spots de buceo donde se ha documentado esta especie — se muestran 10 de 51 documentados.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Southern Lapwing — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
American Golden Plover
Pluvialis dominica
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Southern Screamer
Chauna torquata
Rufous Hornero
Furnarius rufus
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
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