Yellow-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus malabaricus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Caradriformes)
- FamilyCharadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
- GenusVanellus (Lapwings)
- SpeciesVanellus malabaricus (Yellow-wattled Lapwing)
The yellow-wattled lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) is a lapwing that is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is found mainly on the dry plains of peninsular India and has a sharp call and is capable of fast flight. Although they do not migrate, they are known to make seasonal movements in response to rains. They are dull grey brown with a black cap, yellow legs and a triangular wattle at the base of the beak. Like other lapwings and plovers, they are ground birds and their nest is a mere collection of tiny pebbles within which their well camouflaged eggs are laid. The chicks are nidifugous, leaving the nest shortly after hatching and following their parents to forage for food. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow-wattled Lapwing sighting in Yala National Park, based on 414 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Yala National Park
Red-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
Pacific Golden-Plover
Pluvialis fulva
Greater Sandplover
Charadrius leschenaultii
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Common Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Great Thick-knee
Esacus recurvirostris
Common Redshank
Tringa totanus
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Hydrophasianus chirurgus
📅 Monthly Probability
🌅 When They're Spotted
Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yala National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 2 | Kanha National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Mudumalai National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Bandhavgarh National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 5 | Wilpattu National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 6 | Ranthambore National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 7 | Keoladeo National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 8 | Satpura National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 9 | Bandipur National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 10 | Nagarhole National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 11 | Jim Corbett National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 12 | Chitwan National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 13 | Minneriya National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 14 | Sinharaja Forest Reserve | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Yellow-wattled Lapwing in Yala National Park?
About 39% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow-wattled Lapwing sighting in Yala National Park, based on 414 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Yellow-wattled Lapwing in Yala National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Yellow-wattled Lapwing in Yala National Park in our monthly data.