Northern Lapwing

Tumbling over the spring fields

Up close, the Northern Lapwing is far from simply black and white. Its back shines green and purple, and a thin crest curls up from the back of its head.

In spring the males throw themselves about the sky over wet meadows, twisting and diving with a wheezing "pee-wit". The nest is a shallow scrape on bare ground, and the parents chase off crows and other intruders with noisy dives.