BirdUp · Species
Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles(Boddaert, 1783)
Updated
- Order
- CHARADRIIFORMES
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Genus
- Vanellus
At a glance
The Masked Lapwing is a medium-sized bird, about 30–37 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.
- Size
- 30–37 cm
- Origin
- Native
- Best seen
- Year-round
- Commonness
- Very common
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
What does a Masked Lapwing look like?
The Masked Lapwing is a medium-sized bird, about 30–37 cm long and weighing 191–440 g.
The masked lapwing is a large, common and conspicuous bird native to Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. It spends most of its time on the ground searching for food such as insects and worms, and has several distinctive calls. It is common in Australian fields and open land, and is known for its defensive swooping behaviour during the nesting season.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
03 · When
When to look
When can you see a Masked Lapwing?
The Masked Lapwing is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
04 · Voice
What it sounds like
Call
Auradyme · Queensland, AU
Call
graeme lunt · Maryborough VIC 3465, Australia
Call
graeme lunt · Richmond TAS 7025, Australia
Call
Jono · Remainder of ACT, AU-CT, AU
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
What does a Masked Lapwing eat?
The Masked Lapwing feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, intertidal invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
6 photos
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