Grey-headed Lapwing
Vanellus cinereus
Introduction
A very rare vagrant to the UK, the first record was a widely-travelled individual in 2023. First found in Northumberland in early May it then travelled north to Fife, Moray and the Outer Hebrides.
Grey-headed Lapwings are long-distance migrants, breeding in northeast China and Japan, and wintering mainly in northern Southeast Asia. Prior to the UK record there were sporadic records of vagrants in Europe following possible westward expansion of the wintering range in Asia.
Key Stats
Population and distribution stats for:
Status and Trends
Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on
BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.
Conservation Status
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)
Least Concern
Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*
No
Birds Directive Annex 1
No
* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk.
See About Birdfacts for more information.
Population Size
First Record*
Northumberland, 2023
* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this.
See About Birdfacts for more information.
Population Change
Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.
Movement
Information about Grey-headed Lapwing movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack),
Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information for Grey-headed Lapwing, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan
based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
Survival and Longevity
Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.
Classification, names and codes
Taxonomy, names and species codes for Grey-headed Lapwing
Classification and Codes
- Order: Charadriiformes
- Family: Charadriidae
- Scientific name: Vanellus cinereus
- Authority: Blyth, 1842
Alternate species names
- Catalan: Fredeluga capgrisa
- Czech: ?ejka šedohlavá
- Danish: Gråhovedet Vibe
- Dutch: Grijskopkievit
- Finnish: huppuhyyppä
- French: Vanneau à tête grise
- German: Graukopfkiebitz
- Hungarian: szürkefej? bíbic
- Icelandic: Grávepja
- Italian: Pavoncella testagrigia
- Lithuanian: Pilkagalv? pemp?
- Norwegian: Gråhodevipe
- Polish: czajka szarog?owa
- Portuguese: Abibe-de-cabeça-cinzenta
- Slovak: cíbik sivohlavý
- Spanish: Avefría Ceniza
- Swedish: gråhuvad vipa
More Evidence
More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com
Partners
Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by
BTO,
RSPB,
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation,
JNCC and other partners.
Find a Species