"Vanellinae are any of various crested plovers, family Charadriidae, noted for its slow, irregular wingbeat in flight and a shrill,
wailing cry. Its length is 10–16 inches. They are a subfamily of medium-sized wading birds which also includes the plovers
and dotterels. The Vanellinae are collectively called lapwings but also contain the ancient red-kneed dotterel. A lapwing can
be thought of as a larger plover.

In Europe, "lapwing" often refers specifically to the northern lapwing, the only member of this group to occur
in most of the continent." [Wikipedia]