When we were in São Paulo in June 2026, I felt a bit under the weather all week. I rested as much as I could and also took advantage of my youngest nephew’s willingness to drive both Keith and me around.
One afternoon we headed to Villa-Lobos Park for lunch and to check out the Ruth Cardoso Orchidarium. She was the wife of Brazil’s former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. As we walked back to my nephew’s vehicle, we saw several birds congregating around a parking area. My nephew immediately identified them as Quero-Quero, that is, Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis). Although the travel lens I was using only reached 300mm, I began chasing these birds in hopes of a good shot.
The Southern Lapwing is one of the most familiar birds in Brazil, where its loud, insistent call gives it the name quero-quero, which, fittingly, means “I want, I want.” It lives across most of South America, avoiding only dense forest and the highest mountains, and it has been expanding north into Central America, southern Mexico, and the southern Caribbean as land is cleared. It thrives on short grass, so parks, golf courses, airports, and soccer fields suit it perfectly. It is also Uruguay’s national bird. Adults measure about 14 inches (35 cm) long and weigh roughly 9 to 15 ounces (250 to 425 g).
Look closely, and you will notice a thin black crest at the back of the head, red eyes, a bold black breast, and bronze-green shoulders that shimmer in the sun. Less obvious are the bony red spurs at the bend of each wing, which the birds use in fights and to defend their territory. And they take that defense seriously: anyone who wanders too close to a nest or chicks can expect loud alarm calls, low passes, and even dive-bombing, while some adults fake a broken wing to lure predators away from their young.
Just as I was sure I was leaving the park without a decent shot, I struck gold. Right there in the parking lot, I could get close and capture the next image from inside the car. My nephew turned the vehicle in the parking lot so that I could have this privileged view from inside the car.
It wasn’t the same as photographing wildlife from the comfort of our backyard deck, but it was very sweet. I was a happy guy, and I learned about a new bird.
That is the story behind the shots. For more like this, enjoy these related stories: Bird of the Week, Brazil, Parque Villa-Lobos, Quero-Quero, São Paulo, Southern Lapwing, and Wildlife. Until the next shoot, keep chasing the light and the wonders it reveals.
- Posted for I.J. Khanewala’s Birds of the Week Invitation CLXLII.
Sources
- American Bird Conservancy – Southern Lapwing – https://abcbirds.org/?p=34617
- The University of the West Indies, The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago – Vanellus chilensis (Southern Lapwing) – https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/documents/ogatt/Vanellus%20chilensis_Southern%20Lapwing.pdf
- Guia da Semana – Orquidário Ruth Cardoso (Parque Villa-Lobos) – https://www.guiadasemana.com.br/sao-paulo/turismo/estabelecimento/orquidario-ruth-cardoso-parque-villa-lobos
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bushboy
A beautiful little bird. Bird stalking is one of my favourite activities
Alison
Your chasing paid off, such a beautiful bird
Egidio Leitao
At the last minute, it paid off. Thanks, Ali.
I. J. Khanewala
Happy to see a new species of lapwing. Remarkable with that plume and the red eyes. That “broken wing” tactic is common across the lapwing family. So are the loud insistent calls.
Egidio Leitao
I’m happy I was able to add a different species. Thanks for the comment.