A sociable, short-billed, thickset black and white bird with a unique wispy crest. Black breast-band contrasts with white belly and underwing, while green upperside looks dark at long range or in flight. Unmistakable broad-winged shape in the air.

Despite a widespread decline with changing farming practices, the Lapwing remains a familiar and much-loved bird in Europe. In spring males perform exciting display flights, while in winter Lapwings gather into large flocks, often of hundreds and sometimes thousands, in lowland fields and flooded pastures.