red wattled lapwings & chick @ singapore - 03Jan2016

The unusual white patch on the bird attracted another look and a stop confirmed that the bird was a red-wattled lapwing. It was in a field near a busy main road. There was a pair of adult red-wattled lapwings walking about looking for insects amongst the short grass. Some distance away, there was another smaller head bobbing amongst the grass. This was a very young red-wattled lapwing with a distinctive yellow bill with a black terminal spot at the end of its bill. This was quite likely a recently addition to the planet.

During the 45 minutes of observation, the chick did not fly or stretch its wings but ran amongst the grass looking for food independently of the adults. It was the adults who took flight when a person walked across the field. The adults kept repeating their shrill alarm call at first flying away from the direction of the chick to the opposite sides of the field. The chick continued walking about looking for food ignoring the alarm calls. Later, as the man headed closer to the direction of the chick whilst crossing the field, the adults flew towards the general direction of the chick and repeatedly flying low and repeating their alarm call. The chick disappeared into the grass and was not seen again.

I'm guessing that there may have been a nest in the field and the chick was hatched not long ago.

red wattled lapwings & chick @ singapore - 03Jan2016 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.