Editing Sociable lapwing

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = CR
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |year=2019 |title=''Vanellus gregarius'' |amends=2018 |page=e.T22694053A155545788 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22694053A155545788.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = SociablePlover.jpg
| image_caption = At the [[Little Rann of Kutch]], India
| image2 = Vanellus gregarius - Sociable Lapwing XC467005.mp3
| genus = Vanellus
| species = gregarius
| authority = ([[Peter Simon Pallas|Pallas]], 1771)
<br />[[Volga]], [[Russian Empire]]
| synonyms = ''Chaetusia gregaria'' <small>(unjustified emendation)</small><br />
''Charadrius gregarius'' <small>Pallas, 1771</small><br />
''Cheltusia gregaria'' <small>(unjustified emendation)</small><br />
''Chettusia gregaria'' <small>(Pallas, 1771)</small><br />
''Chetusia gregaria'' <small>(unjustified emendation)</small><br />
''Choetusia gregaria'' <small>(unjustified emendation)</small>
| range_map = Vanellus gregarius range map 2.png
| range_map_caption = Range of ''V. gregarius'' (Compiled by: Fahad)
}}

The '''sociable lapwing''' ('''''Vanellus gregarius'''''), referred to as the '''sociable plover''' in the UK,  is a [[wader]] in the [[plover]] family. It is a fully migratory bird, breeding in [[Kazakhstan]] and wintering in the [[Middle East]], [[Indian subcontinent]], and [[Sudan]]. Historical literature referred to this bird as the '''black-bellied lapwing'''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://archive.org/details/ornithologyofstr00irbyrich/page/n191/mode/1up?ref=ol&view=theater | title=Ornithology of Gibraltar, page 272=10 November 2022|work=openlibrary| year=1895 }}</ref>

==Taxonomy==
Along with other lapwings, it is placed in the genus ''Vanellus''. The genus name is [[Medieval Latin]] for a [[northern lapwing|lapwing]] and derives from ''vannus'' a [[Winnowing#In Greek culture|winnowing fan]]. The specific ''gregarius'' is [[Latin]] for "sociable" from ''grex, gregis'', "flock" referring to its tendency to be present alongside conspecifics and other closely related birds.<ref name=job>{{cite book | last= Jobling | first= James A | year= 2010| title= The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | url= https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling | publisher=Christopher Helm | location = London | isbn = 978-1-4081-2501-4 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n178 178], 397}}</ref>

The sociable lapwing is one of many birds described by [[Peter Simon Pallas|Pallas]] during his trip through the Russian landscape.

It is a monotypic species - no [[subspecies]] are recognised.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://indianbirds.thedynamicnature.com/2017/10/sociable-lapwing-vanellus-gregarius.html | title=Sociable lapwing|access-date=14 September 2022|work=dynamicnatude}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Vanellus gregarius 20190414 t1830.jpg|thumb|left|A male alongside a [[Vanellus vanellus|lapwing]] in [[Paris]], [[Second French Empire|France]]]]
This medium-sized lapwing has longish black legs and a short black bill. Non breeding individuals in winter have light brown wings with a striking head pattern. The sociable lapwing has a black crown and eyestripe, the latter being bordered above and below with white. The underside of the bird is white. Its long-ish black legs, white tail with a black terminal band and distinctive brown, white and grey wings make it almost unmistakable in flight.

The summer breeding plumage is much more vivid. The brown feathers become grey-ish and slightly glossy with the exception of the cheeks, which are ochre. The stripes across the eyes and the bird’s crown are stronger in colour, and the lower breast of the bird takes on a black plumage which fades to rich chestnut-coloured feathers as they near the vent.<ref name=BirdLifeFactsheet>{{cite web |publisher=BirdLife International |title=Species factsheet: Sociable Lapwing ''Vanellus gregarius'' |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sociable-lapwing-vanellus-gregarius | access-date = 20 September 2015}}</ref>

[[File: Naturalis Biodiversity Center - ZMA.AVES.14984 - Vanellus gregarius Pallas, 1771 - Charadriidae - skin specimen.jpeg|thumb|left|A skin specimen of a male sociable lapwing collected in the [[Russian Empire]], 1913]]
Juveniles have a bordered back feathers giving them a “scaly” appearance and only traces of the head pattern.

This bird resembles the more abundant [[white-tailed lapwing]], but has a striped crown and dark grey legs as opposed to the yellow legs and plain head of the white-tailed lapwing.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://ebird.org/species/soclap1 | title= EBird- Sociable lapwing}}</ref> It is between{{cvt|27|–|30|cm|in}} in length. The call is a harsh ''kereck''.

[[File:Vanellus gregarius MHNT.jpg|thumb|left|Egg - [[MHNT]]]]

==Distribution and habitat==

Unlike other lapwings, which tend to gravitate towards wetter aquatic environments, the sociable lapwing prefers steppes, arid grasslands, and cultivated fields. It breeds in the steppes of [[Kazakhstan]]. Three to four eggs are laid in a ground nest. The sociable lapwing has historically followed two migration routes,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://datazone.birdlife.org/sowb/casestudy/investigating-the-causes-of-sociable-lapwing-declines | title = Investigating the causes of Sociable Lapwing declines | website = BirdLife Datazone}}</ref> one western and one eastern. On its western route, it passes over Central Asia and turkey to winter in [[Israel]], [[Palestine]] and [[Lebanon]], a few regions in [[Saudi Arabia]], as well as [[Eastern Africa]]. On its eastern route, it winters in coastal [[Iran]], the [[United Arab Emirates]], and [[India]].

In the case of two countries, however, the case is different. [[Qatar]] and [[Kuwait]], the sociable lapwing was recorded historically as a [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrant]], with the first sightings in the 80s. As the nations industrialised, farms and parks were established throughout the countries. In particular, vagrants have visited the Rukaiya farm and Sulaibyia pivot fields in the early 2000s and have taken to repeatedly visiting or even wintering in the nations, giving rise to a third, central migration route.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://qatarbirds.org/category/observations/ | title= birds of Qatar| date= January 2022}}</ref>

Once occupying a large range in Europe, the sociable lapwing has been practically wiped out from the continent. The remnants of the former Ukrainian population migrate to the Iberian peninsula, where up to five individuals may spend the winter. On their way, individuals have been observed in nearly every European country<ref>{{cite web|url= https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/V104_N02_P084–090_A.pdf | title= birds of britishbirds}}</ref> and the [[Second French Empire|French Empire]], often found alongside the [[Northern lapwing]] on its migratory and vagrancy trips. It feeds in a similar way, picking [[insect]]s and other small prey mainly from grassland or arable land.

[[File:Pîwîya bikil.jpg|thumb|left]]

== Status==
[[File: Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) (8079444215).jpg|thumb|left|breeding individuals in [[Kazakhstan]]]]

The sociable lapwing’s population had always been difficult to quantify. It was estimated that the population has always been in decline, and especially following a major crash towards the end of the 20th century, leaving the current population at only 20-25% of its historical count.<ref name=BirdLifeFactsheet/>

The estimated population count was enhanced following decades long studies and, in October 2007, a superflock of approximately 3,200 sociable lapwings were discovered in Turkey, according to Guven Eken, director of the Turkish Nature Association.<ref name=npr/> Additionally, 1500 sociable lapwings were found overwintering in Syria.<ref name=BirdLife/> The population is currently estimated to sit at 17 thousand individuals, and there was a reported increase in nests each year leading up to 2007, however it is difficult to determine whether this was an increase or simply more nests being found as a result of intensified fieldwork.<ref name=BirdLifeFactsheet/> The range of the sociable lapwing has heavily contracted as it has once existed from Ukraine to China.

The fieldwork undergone that led to the discoveries of thousands of sociable lapwings had led to the population being much larger than once feared, however it was also discovered adults have low survival rates, and the population is projected to decline at a similar or accelerated rate. The reasons for the crash of the population are largely unknown, but hunting along migratory flyways have been attributed as a notable threat at the very least.<ref name=BirdLifeFactsheet/>

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=BirdLife>{{cite web |title=Ornithologists "hit jackpot" on sightings of Critically Endangered bird |date=2 March 2007 |publisher=BirdLife International |url=http://www.birdlife.org/news/pr/2007/03/sociable_lapwing_discovery.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929211804/http://www.birdlife.org/news/pr/2007/03/sociable_lapwing_discovery.html |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=npr>{{cite web |title=Superflock of Endangered Birds Spotted in Turkey |publisher=National Public Radio |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15483243 |date=20 October 2007}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Vanellus gregarius}}
{{Wikispecies|Vanellus gregarius}}
* [http://www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux/photos/vanneau.sociable.html Sociable lapwing photos] at [http://www.oiseaux.net Oiseaux.net]
* {{Avibase|name=Vanellus gregarius}}
* {{InternetBirdCollection|sociable-lapwing-vanellus-gregarius}}
* {{VIREO|Sociable+lapwing}}
* {{IUCN_Map|22694053/166267604|Vanellus gregarius}}
* {{Xeno-canto species|Vanellus|gregarius|Sociable lapwing}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q279307}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vanellus|sociable lapwing]]
[[Category:Birds of Central Asia]]
[[Category:Wintering birds of Africa]]
[[Category:Wintering birds of South Asia]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1771|sociable lapwing]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Peter Simon Pallas]]