Charadriidae Plovers and Lapwings

From the demure Diademed Sandpiper-Plover of the high Andes to the various species of assertive and aggressive Vanellus lapwings worldwide, the plovers span a considerable spectrum. But in terms of their ecology, they are remarkably uniform. They are birds of very open shores, taking prey from the surface of sand or mud in a series of short runs punctuated with abrupt stops to jab, look for predators and more prey, then move on. As in waterfowl, the smaller species are more likely to protect their nests by stealth, whereas the larger stand and defend. Such size differences pertain to flight styles as well: most smaller plovers have fast direct flight, while the lapwings fly with more leisurely deep strokes of their broader wings.