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Masked Lapwing

(Vanellus miles)
Alternative names: "Spur-winged Plover", "Wattled Plover", "Alarm-bird"
Aboriginal name: "baaldarradharra" [gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay]
Size: 35-39 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Masked Lapwings inhabit basically the eastern half of the Australian continent. Found mostly in the south-east (Tasmania, NSW, south-east QLD and the eastern half of SA), they also disperse into central and northern QLD and, conditions permitting, basically all of the NT. Apart for a few spots on the south-east coast and along the Fitzroy River, they are not found in WA and the western half of SA.

North of a line crossing approximately central QLD and the southern part of the NT, race "miles" is found, south of that line race "novaehollandiae", the "Spur-winged Plover".

Masked Lapwings are mostly found in mudflats around various types of environments (e.g. around lakes, rivers and farm dams) and on open grassland (including paddocks and urban parks).

Sightings

So far we have seen only subspecies "novaehollandiae", the Spur-winged Plover. They are found almost everywhere as permanent residents in our area, near Narrabri, NSW. One pair has adopted the paddocks behind the farmhouse where we lived up to 2006 as its territory and, in line with their habits, they come back every year to raise their chicks.

Other breeding pairs reside on the paddocks at the Australia Telescope observatory 25 km west of Narrabri, on farms 20 km east of Narrabri and an the slopes to the Nandewar Range, 30-40 km east of Narrabri.

Plovers were also sighted by us on a trip to the east of the dividing range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo and further to the Clarence River downs and Iluka, NSW.

Also seen and heard around water in the Flinders and Gammon Ranges in South Australia in March 2008.

Photos

Subspecies "novaehollandiae"

Two Spur-winged Plovers on a concrete path in Sydney

Plover wading through shallow water on the bank of Narrabri Lake

This photo of a bird in flight clearly shows how they earn their name as "Spur-winged Plovers"

Here two Maked Lapwings in flight

One animal's refuse is another's resource; immature Masked Lapwing poking around in cow dung

Family of Plovers on the bank of our neighbour's billabong; they are clearly taking some interest in the photographer's activities

Near-frontal view of an immature Masked Lapwing

Lateral view of an immature Masked Lapwing

Dorsal view of an immature Masked Lapwing

Family of Plovers on our paddock (two of four chicks visible)

Plover chick on a dry paddock

For those who like diversity: Adult Pacific Black Duck (front left), Royal Spoonbill (front right) and Masked Lapwing (Plover; rear left) on our former neighbour's billabong, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Nov Eggs: 3 - 4 Incubation period: 28 days Fledging age: 35 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Masked Lapwings breed Nov - May. Given the right conditions, they can breed any time of the year.

The young leave the nest almost immediately after everybody has hatched, following their parents.

Nest

Type: Scrape Material: Bare soil, possibly a few twigs or dry leaves Height above ground: N/A

Masked Lapwings will nest almost anywhere. They choose places for nesting that to humans may seem strange, such as the middle of traffic roundabouts. But when thinking like a Plover, one will realise that a roundabout keeps away foxes, which is important to a ground-nesting bird.

Masked Lapwing sitting on its nest taken from a distance, because the bird will retreat and try to distract an intruder's attention from the nest when disturbed

Photo of a Masked Lapwing nest with 4 eggs in it in 2005

Eggs

Size: 46 x 33 mm Colour: Olive-green with dark-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Zoom onto the eggs in the photo above ; click on image to see the eggs laid in the same nest year later, in September 2006

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Pair/family

Masked Lapwings return to the same nesting site every year and place the nest in the exact same spot, as precisely as they can remember. When there are eggs in the nest (just a scrape in the ground) or chicks around, one had best not approach too closely. Plovers are not afraid to swoop on, and make contact with, humans venturing too far.