Lapwing

Lapwings (subfamily Vanellinae) are any of various ground-nesting birds (familyCharadriidae) akin to plovers and dotterels. They range from 20–38 centimetres (7.9–15.0 in) in length.

The traditional terms "plover", "lapwing", and "dotterel" do not correspond exactly to current taxonomic models; thus, several of the Vanellinae are often called plovers, and one a dotterel, while a few of the "true" plovers (subfamily Charadriinae) are known colloquially as lapwings. In general, a lapwing can be thought of as a larger plover.

In Europe's Anglophone countries, lapwing refers specifically to the northern lapwing, the only member of this group to occur in most of the continent and thus the first bird to go by the English name lapwing (also known as pewit or peewit, and green plover).

In the fanciful nomenclature promoted by medieval courtesy books, a group of lapwings was called a "deceit".