About Vanellus resplendens (Tschudi, 1843)
The Andean lapwing, scientifically named Vanellus resplendens (Tschudi, 1843), is approximately 33 cm (13 in) long and weighs between 193 and 230 g (6.8 to 8.1 oz). Males and females look identical, and the species does not undergo seasonal changes to its plumage. Adult Andean lapwings have a creamy gray head and neck, with a dark brownish gray patch surrounding the eye. Their upperparts are colored bronzy green, with a purple patch on the wing coverts. They have a dark gray breast and a white belly. Their bill is pinkish orange with a black tip, while both their eyes and legs are reddish. Juveniles have brownish heads and necks, buff mottling on the breast, and pale buff fringes on the feathers of their upperparts.
Andean lapwings are distributed along the Andes mountains, ranging from southwestern Colombia southwards through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to reach northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. They live in a variety of open landscapes, including páramo, puna, shore meadows, and open sections of marshes. They are typically found near lakes or rivers, and avoid saline waters. Their general elevation range is between 2,700 and 4,600 m (8,900 and 15,100 ft); they can be found as high as 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in Chile, and as low as 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in the southern portions of their range. They occasionally reach the coast during the austral winter.
