Leaping Into The Skies, But Feet Are Always On The Ground : Bratajo Goswami.

Agartala, Tripura, 28th of March 2025 : In the sweltering heat of the summers of the subcontinent, many a bird manifest – some to scope out a nesting ground, some to rear their eggs, some to raise their hatchlings; and then there are those that seek the company of a partner with whom to share all of that. One such creature is the quite prominent Red-wattled Lapwing (Transliteration: Hot-ti-ti). Given the geographical expanse this species operates in, the exact timing and duration of the mating behaviours may vary slightly depending on the exact location of their domicile; however, their tendency to form a long-term bond is common across the species. Usually, unless the partner encounters an untimely demise, they remain bonded for lifetime. It is evident, that they choose to adhere to monogamy by nature instead of being tied down by laws that operate within human societies.

The Red-wattled Lapwing(Species:Vanellus indicus)has a curious name in the Hot-ti-ti. Their distinct call is what gave them this moniker. Their calls are often described as a series of repeated notes in shrill “hot-ti-ti, hot-ti-ti” reprise that could mean a plethora of things depending on the pitch and urgency of the call. Regardless, this loud echoing yoo-hoo is what makes them stand out, and remains the reason for their peculiar nomenclature in Bengali. This phenomenon is called “Onomatopoeia”: essentially, creating a word – or by extension naming a creature – from the sound associated with, or by the subject – here the creature. Bengalis have subscribed to this phenomenon since millennia past, for animals and birds alike. The liberties Bengalis have taken while naming resident birds, such as the House crow, Spotted dove, Greater coucal, among others, explain the onomatopoeic phenomenon, and the community’s reliance on naming things (and creatures) based on the sound they make.

Perhaps, name the bird inherits in English also reserves some of the curious factor. Red-wattled Lapwing – where lapwing refers to several species of birds that exhibit a particular flight style where rapid and erratic wingbeats are common. When on the ground, lapwings are known to run, stop abruptly, and then leap into the air, giving the impression of a “leaping” motion. This motion alone has perhaps given the reason for the term “lapwing” to originate from the Old English word “hlēapewince,” (pronouncedleapwince) which can be roughly translated to “leaping wince” or “leaping bird.” In the British Isles, Lapwings (various distant cousins of the Hot-ti-ti) are also called “peewit”, apparently mimicking their distinctive, two-syllable call – another onomatopoeic word. We’ve established what lapwings are, but what of “wattle”? that too “red”? Taking the example of a Rooster will probably have the best effect in explaining what “wattles” are. Typically, the fleshy, elongated part that hangs from the beak towards the neck, which puffs up when the Rooster is angry or which pulsates whenever it starts in its Morning Call, is what makes up a wattle. For the Red-wattled Lapwings, these wattles are prominent, and bright red, providing a striking contrast against the bird’s black and white plumage. Yes, the bird is mostly white with inflections of black strokes, and yet is a medley of contrasting colours. The upperparts, including the wings and back, are mainly bronze-brown. In contrast, the underparts, including the belly and breast, are white. Though the red is the most apparent feature in its head, the white and the black run from its body to crown the top with a streak of black, and then the white appears just beside the eyes, before the throat gives way to the black streak once again. The male and the female are quite alike in their appearance, and exhibit low levels of sexual dimorphism. The only discernible feature to separate between the sexes is to observe the “wattle” itself, which, in general, is longer in males.

It is during their mating season that, which may encompass all the summer months, one may identify a male simply by its behavioural tendencies. The males will often engage in aerial display flights to attract females. The flight patterns would be similar to their usual erratic movements, only with the exception that they would perform acrobatic manoeuvres mid-flight to catch the attention of the female. And it doesn’t end there; no sooner does the female catch the bait than the male begins a phenomenal courtship dance which would involve stretching and spreading his wings, raising and lowering his crest on the head in repeated fashion, strutting in exaggerated demonstration of his long, skinny legs, and flailing around in circles around the female. All this while wailing loudly in its distinctive “hot-ti-ti” call.

When the mate for life has been decided comes the part of nestling and laying of eggs. Any Lapwing may be observed to nestle on the ground and, typically, Red-wattled Lapwings are no different. If enough water is available or a water source is present in the vicinity, the Lapwings will choose to construct nests in simple scrapes in the soil, lined with bits of grass and leaves. It isn’t unlikely to locate a lapwing nest in a corner of a playground, leading one to wonder about the potential danger of the eggs being scooped up by predators or even by humans, that is if one is indeed able to locate them in the first place. Red-wattled Lapwings lay a clutch of three to four eggs, and the eggs assume a light brown or olive-coloured base with dark blotches and speckles, which is a tremendous natural camouflage. This camouflage and the seemingly inconspicuous nest help the eggs blend into the surroundings and provide some protection from potential predators. For the duration of about a month after the eggs have been laid, both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs. Rarely does one parent leave the whole nest completely unguarded; however, exceptions have been noticed, perhaps when chances of procuring food become scarce. And this schedule keeps on through the hatching of eggs, till the chicks are mature enough to gain their flight feathers. Throughout, both parents continue to provide care for the chicks, guiding the chicks towards foraging food and teaching them ways to avoid, or even defend against, potential threats. The chicks are precocial, which means they are born in an advanced state and are able to feed themselves almost immediately after hatching. They can move about from the first day of hatching, and it hardly takes them a few weeks to grow and become capable enough to seek new pastures themselves.

With no one to care for, the parents assume their old self. These lapwings may be observed throughout the year, and they frequent the same hunting ground. My personal observation has led me to believe that they sleep in intervals, and not for long while. In their usual behaviour, they seek food in the open fields. Since, their diet consists insects like dragonflies, crickets, beetles, etc, it is these fields where they make frequent stops. The darkness of night doesn’t impede the hunt either. Even after the sun has set, they are a menace towards these ground dwelling insects. As it appears, their usual cycle starts in a hunt when the sun breaks in the morning, followed by a relaxing siesta in the high noon, moving onto another hunt during the afternoon till the dying lights of the day. It is impossible to ascertain whether all Lapwings operate under the same schedule. In contrast to their brethren in Tripura, the North-Indian Lapwings are most active during the noon. One may easily locate them foraging in golden fields of Punjab and Haryana during the onset of spring. The ideal location to observe these birds will be an open field with a water source nearby. Spring and the summer months are the time when they are most active, but they can be observed throughout the year. The summers end, but one may still hear their call, one bird always in tow of the other.

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