Vanellus miles
The Masked Lapwing, *Vanellus miles*, is a striking and unmistakable wading bird native to Australia and New Guinea, readily identified by its bold black, white, and brown plumage, and most notably, its prominent yellow facial wattles and sharp, bony yellow spurs at the bend of each wing. Reaching a length of 30-37 cm (12-15 in) with a wingspan of 75-85 cm (30-33 in) and weighing 200-400g (7-14 oz), its white underparts contrast sharply with a black cap, nape, and primaries, a brown back, and...
This species thrives in open, grassy habitats, including pastures, agricultural fields, wetlands edges, urban parks, and golf courses, generally at low to moderate elevations.
Their diet primarily consists of insects and their larvae, spiders, earthworms, and other small invertebrates, which they forage for by probing and gleaning from the ground.
Masked Lapwings are diurnal, often active from dawn till dusk, and roost in open, often elevated areas for safety. They forage by slowly walking across open ground, visually scanning for prey, and then probing the soil or snatching insects from the surface with their bills. Highly territorial, es...
The Masked Lapwing is widely distributed across northern and eastern Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea, as well as parts of eastern Indonesia. It was successfully introduced to New Zealand in the early 20th century, where it has since established a thriving resident population across both North...
Least Concern
- Despite being commonly called 'Plover' in Australia, the Masked Lapwing is technically a lapwing, distinguished by its larger size and prominent facial appendages. - It is infamous for its aggressive 'dive-bombing' defense strategy, where it swoops low over intruders, often with loud calls, but...