We heard just a little vocalization from our MD Lapwing on Thursday as it squabbled with Killdeer.
I was intrigued by the Washington Post's description Feb 17 of their song (per Sibley) as "chee peewi ...peet ...air wilucho weep weep ee yo weep." I wasn't sure just how to sing that so I did a little Internet searching.
In case you're curious, here are some online recordings of calls and songs of Lapwings in various formats.
They are indeed pretty strange and wonderful.
http://www.virtual-bird.com/birdsounds.htm format: .mp3
(A great collection of European birdsong online. Scroll down about 1/4 of the way down to Northern Lapwing and click on the scientific name on left: "Vanellus vanellus")
http://www.10x50.com/sounds.htm - .wav or Real Audio .ra (UK site)
http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/lapwing.htm - QuickTime or .mp3 (on a page with written info about the bird in Britain as well)
http://www.bl.uk/collections/sound-archive/wild.html - Real Audio .ram (includes the "lapping" sound of wings. UK site)
Steve Sanford
Randallstown (Baltimore Co) MD |