They are small to medium-sized
birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings, but most species of lapwing may have more rounded wings. Their bill are usually straight (except for the
Wrybill) and short, their toes are short, hind toe could be reduced or absent, depending on species. Most Charadriidae also have relatively short tails, the
Killdeer is the exception. In most genera, the sexes are similar, very little sexual dimorphism occurs between sexes. They range in size from the
Collared Plover, at 26 grams and 14 cm (5.5 inches), to the
Masked Lapwing, at 368 grams (13 oz) and 35 cm (14 inches)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charadriidae