Distribution, reproductive phenology, and natural history of the Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis in central zone of Chile

Abstract

The latitudinal and altitudinal distribution of the Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis is clarified. Some aspects of its breeding biology were studied. Breeding in central Chile started earlier than normally reported in the literature, the first nests were found by late May and the last by late December. There was a relationship between rains and breeding, nesting started about a month after the first "larger" rains. In central Chile, the earliest nest was found in late May and the last during late December. The species breeds primarily in winter and the highest number of nests was found between July and September. Breeding occurred from sea level to 1800 m ASL. The nest can be a simple scrape on the ground to a more elaborated platform made with dry grasses; the average nest diameter was 131 mm. The clutch size varied between two and five eggs but most nests (52%) contained three eggs. The incubation period was found to be 27 days.