The Yellow-wattled lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) - पीला टीटहरि

Yellow-Wattled Lapwing

Yellow-wattled lapwing is a ground bird which can be seen in open grassland. They are silent compared to the Red-wattled lapwing. When in danger , their behaviour is similar to Red-wattled with high shrieks and circling above the enemy. They protect their chicks by standing on guard in all the corners. The chicks start foraging immediately after hatching from the eggs. 




During our birding, there was not a single day we had missed seeing the watchful Red-wattled Lapwing.  But I Saw my first Yellow-wattled lapwing only after I started serious birding. We saw them in Chennai and initially we spotted only one. We were happy with our sighting but soon we started seeing the lapwings standing here and there. They look very colourful with their yellow wattle but they merge well with the surrounding.

पीला टीटहरि is the common name for this lapwing in Hindi. They are endemic to Indian Subcontinent. They do local migration based on the monsoon. They nest on the ground and in a clutch they lay 2-4 eggs. Both the parents take care of their young ones. They move around in flocks usually. They feed on insects, reptiles. 



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