Sociable Lapwing

Sociable Lapwing :: Vanellus gregarius

Bad at Goodbyes :: Episode 077

On today’s show we learn about the Sociable Lapwing, a critically endangered migratory avian, a bird, native to breeding grounds in Kazakhstan and wintering sites in Sudan, India, Pakistan, and in small pockets across the Middle East. Its scientific name is Vanellus gregarius and it was first described in 1771.

• (00:05) Intro
• (02:05) Species Information
• (26:56) Citations
• (28:55) Music
• (36:53) Pledge

Research for today’s show was compiled from:

• Berdahl, Andrew M., Albert B. Kao, Andrea Flack, Peter A. H. Westley, Edward A. Codling, Iain D. Couzin, Anthony I. Dell, and Dora Biro. 2018. "Collective Animal Navigation and Migratory Culture: From Theoretical Models to Empirical Evidence." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 373 (1746): 20170009. – https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0009
• Bhagwat, T., Urazaliyev, R., Nill, L. et al. Habitat suitability for Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) increases across its global range, but populations continue to decline. Journal of Ornithology. – https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-025-02357-2
• BirdLife International. 2019. Vanellus gregarius (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22694053A155545788. – https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22694053A155545788.en
• Biricik, M. (2009). Unexpectedly large number of Sociable Lapwings, Vanellus gregarius, on autumn migration in Turkey and some remarks on the stopover site. Ornithological Society of the Middle East. n.d. Sandgrouse. Vol. 31. 15-17. – https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44744626
• Donald, P.F., Kamp, J., Green, R.E. et al. Migration strategy, site fidelity and population size of the globally threatened Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius. Journal of Ornithology 162, 349–367 (2021). – https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01844-y
• Eichhorn, G. & Heinicke, T. Notable observations of the Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius from Tengiz-Korgalzhyn area- central Kazakstan. Wader Study Group Bulletin. 93: 73-76. – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304571137_Notable_observations_of_the_Sociable_Plover_Vanellus_gregarius_from_the_Tengiz_-_Korgalzhyn_area_central_Kazakstan
• Fijen, Thijs. (2013). Xeno-Canto. Sound Recording. XC145086. – www.xeno-canto.org/145086
• Gallo Orsi, Umberto, and Canan Orhun, comps. 2008. "Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)." In Review of the Implementation and the Effectiveness of 15 Single Species Action Plans for Migratory Waterbird Species, 55–56. AEWA Technical Series No. 30. Bonn, Germany: UNEP/AEWA Secretariat. – https://www.unep-aewa.org/sites/default/files/publication/ts30_ssap_review_final_0_0.pdf
• iNaturalist – https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=50.636602954&nelng=70.232115181&quality_grade=research&subview=map&swlat=50.336026198&swlng=69.740476998&view=species
• Kamp, J., Sheldon, R.D., Koshkin, M.A., Donald, P.F. And Biedermann, R. (2009), Post-Soviet steppe management causes pronounced synanthropy in the globally threatened Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius. Ibis, 151: 452-463. – https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2009.00938.x
• Keijl, Guido, Simon Delany, Jeff Kirby, and Tim Dodman. 2009. "Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius." In An Atlas of Wader Populations in Africa and Western Eurasia, edited by Simon Delany, Derek Scott, Tim Dodman, and David Stroud, 171–174. Wageningen, The Netherlands: Wetlands International – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276264669_Sociable_Lapwing_Vanellus_gregarius
• Lambert, Frank (2025). Xeno-Canto. Sound Recording. XC1030408. – www.xeno-canto.org/1030408
• Moldován, I. & Sándor, A. (2010). "Observation of a large flock of sociable Lapwings Vanellus gregarius in southeast Egypt". Ornithological Society of the Middle East. n.d. Sandgrouse. Vol. 32. – https://www.biodiversi