Masked Lapwing

Overview

The masked lapwing (Vanellus miles) is a large, common, and conspicuous bird native to Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. It is the largest representative of the family Charadriidae and is classified under the subfamily Vanellinae rather than the plover subfamily.

Identification

• Length of 30 to 37 cm with a wingspan of 75–85 cm; the southern subspecies is larger than the nominate.
• A conspicuous yellow spur on the carpal joint of each wing.
• The nominate subspecies has an all-white neck and large yellow wattles, while the southern subspecies features a black neck-stripe and smaller wattles.
• A wide range of calls, including warning, defending, and courtship sounds, which can be heard at any time of day or night.

Habitat

Found throughout Australia (particularly the north and east), New Zealand, and New Guinea, these birds prefer the edges of wetlands and moist, open environments but are adaptable enough to survive in surprisingly arid areas. They are also frequently observed on beaches and coastlines.

Diet

The bird spends most of its time on the ground, actively searching for food such as insects and worms.

Did you know?

A widely held myth claims the wing spur can inject venom, but this is false; the belief likely stems from the bird's fierce territorial swooping behaviour. Additionally, Vanellus miles novaehollandiae is considered a self-introduced native in New Zealand after spreading naturally from Australia in the 1930s.