Strange birds with strange spike on head (1 Viewer)

[jlees1996]

I recently came across these odd looking birds which i'd never seen before, there were 3 of them in a group, i think they were a mixture of black and white, similar to a magpie and they were very vocal, they made a loud screeching noise.
But perhaps the most peculiar thing is the single spike (i'm not sure the correct word for it) on their head.

There is snow on the ground in the photo but if you look closely at one of them you can see a clear white breast.

Please help, does anyone know what these birds are?

 

[nickderry]

they are lapwings.

 

[robinm]

Lapwings

 

[dantheman]

'Crest'

And welcome to BF

 

[David FG]

Very nice birds they are, too.

And, by the way, the 'spike' is called a crest.

PS. Dantheman got there before me, I see.