River Lapwing is a fairly common breeding resident. Until recently they were considered a race of the mainly African, Spur-winged Plover. True to its name, it is almost entirely restricted to the close proximity of rivers. Odd birds may occasionally turn up on the muddy margins of pools and wetlands elsewhere, but it is the sand and mud banks of the Ganga River that support the great bulk of the population in our area. They also frequent riverine vegetable and fallow fields, particularly where the crops are low and sparse and the soil sandy. Melon beds on sandbanks are a favoured nesting site presumably because the low plants afford some shade. River Lapwings are relatively quiet compared with the Red-wattled Lapwings, which often share the same habitat. But they can be noisy in the breeding season and are equally territorial. Pairs jealously guard their nesting territories and have been seen to drive off crows and even Red-wattled Lapwings, with great persistence.

They nest from February to June before the monsoon swells the river. River Lapwings are beautifully marked waders but their subtle, milky coffee-coloured upperparts merge well into their usual background and they are easily overlooked on the ground. They spend much of the day standing around quietly and motionless which makes them even easier to overlook.