Sri Lankan Red-Wattled Lapwing

The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is found in Southern Asia, from southeastern Turkey to south China, down to Sri Lanka, the Malay Peninsula and northern Sumatra. There are four subspecies. One of those subspecies (V. i. lankae) is endemic to Sri Lanka. 

Red-wattled lapwing in Udawalawe NP.

They are wading birds, about 14 inches long. The wings and back are light brown with a purple to green sheen; 

Note the purplish sheen on the outer edge of the wing, that then goes to a slightly greenish sheen. 

the head and bib on the front and back of the neck are black; and the area between those two colors is white, as is the belly and the tail. 

There is a black stripe toward the end of the tail, and a black-tipped bill. What really stands out is the rest of the bill, which is red, and the red, fleshy wattle in front of each eye. 

It has yellow legs. The Sri Lankan subspecies is smaller and darker than the others. 

They were relatively common in areas with water. We saw quite a few of them, but all but one of my pictures was taken in Udawalawe National Park. It is one of those birds that we just stopped taking pictures of, but that I wish I'd taken more pictures of.

The wattle is not as extensive as the wattle on the yellow-wattled lapwing.