Mating systems in the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Abstract

The Lapwing Vanellus vanellus has traditionally been regarded as a monogamous, single-brooded species, defending a single territory. Recent studies involving individually recognizable Lapwings have begun to challenge the ubiquity of  these statements, with high  frequencies of  polygyny and the production of  second  broods  being reported. Breeding  Lapwings were studied in Upper Teesdale, County Durham, U.K., between 1993 and 1995,  where both  adults and chicks had been individually colour-ringed since 1990. A total of  90 territorial males and 64 females were intensively studied during the 3 years. Overall,  30% of territorial males had more than one mate in any year, with 19% more adult males than yearling males mating polygynously. On two occasions, polygynous males simultaneously defended two  territories. Five females attempted to produce second broods, and  one was polyandrous.