(Vanellus vanellus), also green plover or pewit, a bird of the family Chardriidae of the suborder Limicolae. The body measures 30 cm in length, and the weight is approximately 200 g. The upper parts and breast are greenish, with a purple sheen. The lapwing is distributed in Europe and Asia. In the USSR it is found from the western border to Primor’e Krai; in Siberia it occurs only in the south. In the winter it is commonly found in Middle Asia and Transcaucasia. Lapwings nest in grassy marshes, pasturelands, or fields. The clutch contains four eggs, which are incubated primarily by the female for 27 to 29 days. The diet includes insects and other small invertebrates, as well as seeds.