SOUTHERN LAPWING Vanellus chilensis
The adaptable Southern Lapwing needs no introduction, almost any patch of bare grass in Paraguay has its resident pair. The local name "Tero-Tero" refers to the raucous alarm call, produced at the slightest provocation and an affront to the ears of any passer-by. So alert are these birds that it is a long-held tradition to kidnap these birds as chicks and use them instead of "guard-dogs" for house protection - they rapidly become tame. Fortunately this practice is dying out fast - they´re not as intimidating as a Rottweiler and the neighbours won´t appreciate the racket!
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - Adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Hemme Batjes November 2005).
FIGURE 2 - Adult frontal view, location unknown (Frank Fragano undated).
FIGURE 3 - Flock, Arroyo Mboi Kae, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith August 2006).
FIGURE 4 - Juvenile, PN Iguassu, Provincia Misiones Argentina (Alberto Esquivel September 2004)
FIGURE 5- Juvenile in cryptiv posture, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel July 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 6- Recently hatched chicks in nest adopting cryptic defensive posture, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Hemme Batjes November 2005).
FIGURE 7- Chick lateral view, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
FIGURE 8 Structured nest with eggs, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
FIGURE 9 - Nest lacking structure with eggs, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated)
FIGURE 10 - Adults in flight, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Sylvia Qu May 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
VIDEO - Adults in threat posture, Fuerte Olimpo (Paul Smith September 2006).
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Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Frank Fragano,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis and Sylvia Qu and is used with their permission.
Vanellus chilensis
1 flushing recorded PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith March 2007 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
2 single bird calling recorded PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel Smith June 2007 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
Click the links to hear the calls. Longer versions of this call can be downloaded from the Paraguay page of our partner website www.xeno-canto.com - the largest collection of freely downloadable Neotropical bird calls available online.