Genus Vanellus is a category of birds that belong to the family of Charadriidae. The species is also known by various other names, such as the lapwing, peewit, and green plover. The term lapwing comes from the bird's tendency to run and hop instead of walking. The peewit name is inspired by the lapwing's distinctive call, which is a high-pitched "pee-wit" sound. The name green plover refers to the bird's greenish-black coloring. Other synonyms for Genus Vanellus include the blackcap, flutterer, and tuppie. Despite the different names, all refer to the same bird species.