Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles
Aves › Charadriiformes › Charadriidae › Vanellus
Conservation status: least_concern
This large, common, and conspicuous bird spends most of its time on the ground searching for food such as insects and worms. It is known for its defensive swooping behaviour during the nesting season.
How To Identify
These medium-sized wading birds are stocky with sturdy legs and a predominantly plain brown body plumage. They are named for the distinctive dark stripe or mask that runs across their face, contrasting sharply with lighter feathers.
Habitat
It typically inhabits open grasslands, wetlands, mudflats, and urban areas near water bodies across Australia, New Guinea, and nearby regions.
Behaviour
During breeding season, they perform dramatic distraction displays and will dive-bomb intruders with loud alarm calls to protect their ground nests.
Native Range
The masked lapwing is native to Australia particularly the northern and eastern parts of the continent New Zealand and New Guinea. The masked lapwing (Vanellus miles) is a large, common and conspicuous bird native to Australia (particularly the northern and eastern parts of the continent), New Zealand and New Guinea.
Did You Know?
Masked Lapwings are equipped with sharp spurs on their wings that they use aggressively to defend their nests, earning them the colloquial name 'spur-winged plover' and a fearsome reputation among beachgoers during breeding season.
Create a free account to log your sightings of the Masked Lapwing, see where it has been recorded near you and build your Wild List.
Privacy · Terms · Impressum · Credits · About the beta