The Northern Lapwing breeds across most of Europe and into the Middle East and across north central Asia as far as China. In winter it migrates to western Europe and north Africa. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found on open terrain with a preference for damp fields, pastures or grasslands where there is a good supply of worms and insects.

The flight is very characteristic with broad, flappy wings showing the blackish upperparts then the whitish underparts. The large flocks which form in winter give a flickering effect as they fly around.