The Pied Lapwing is a small South American lapwing found east of the Andes. Its red legs and bold black, white, and sandy-brown plumage stand out.
Adults have a sandy head and back, a black face and breast band, and a white belly. Their legs are red, and the sexes look alike.
It uses sandbars along rivers, savanna waters, and some coasts, often alone or in loose groups. It runs briefly, pauses, and searches the ground for insects and other small invertebrates.
The nest is a bare scrape in sand without plant lining. The female lays 2–3 buff-olive eggs with dark brown markings, and a parent covers the eggs with sand when leaving.
Its prey includes bugs, beetles and hymenopterans, as well as myriapods, snails and other molluscs.
White edges to the black shoulder feathers form a V on the back. Juveniles have a browner, less extensive face mask, a dark grey breast band and buff-edged upperparts.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.