Lapwings are in the same family as the plovers and dotterels. These large shore/field birds are found on all the continents, except North America. The lapwings are not native to North America. Among all the species of lapwings in the world, the Northern Lapwing is the most likely one that will be seen.
It is usually along the eastern coast of the North American Continent.
The Southern Lapwing is native to the southern regions of Central America, south to the southern tip of South America. It has been identified at least three different years up to 2024 in three different regions of the US.
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.