The lapwing is a 28–31 cm long bird with a 70–76 cm wingspan and a body mass of 150–300 grams. It has rounded wings and a crest. It is mainly black and white, but the back is tinted green.

It is a wader that breeds on cultivated land and other short vegetation habitats. 3–4 eggs are laid in a ground scrape. The nest and young are defended noisily and aggressively against all intruders, up to and including horses and cattle.

In winter, it forms huge flocks on open land, particularly arable land and mud-flats. It feeds primarily on insects and other small invertebrates. This species often feeds in mixed flocks with golden plovers and black-headed gulls.