The River Lapwing is seen along rivers in India. Its black, grey, and brown plumage and raised black crest are distinctive.
It has black, grey, and brown plumage and raises its black crest when displaying.
It often forages in pairs on riverbanks or exposed islands. Its loud, shrill calls are given during display and when alarmed.
Ten nests studied along the upper Tapi River in India during 2022–2025 were on sparsely vegetated gravel banks near the channel. The birds made shallow scrapes with stones around them, sometimes adding dry leaves or grass.
In the upper Tapi study both parents participated in nest construction and incubation. Eggs were olive-yellow or dusky brown with black markings.
Chicks in the same upper Tapi study were observed crouching against the ground or sheltering beneath vegetation.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.