General Description
Upper body light brown with top of head, sides of breast, and wing tips black. Underparts and lower back white. Yellow circular flap of skin hanging on face. Body up to 38 cm long.
Biology
Masked Lapwings nest in open areas and defend the nest by swooping on intruders.
Habitat
Open grassy paddocks, wetlands, intertidal mudflats and parkland.
Coastal shores
Distribution guide
Mainly eastern Australia.
Species Group
Max Size
38 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Commercial Species
Yes
Global Dispersal
Native to Australia
Conservation Status
- DSE Advisory List : Not listed
- EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
- IUCN Red List : Least Concern
Author
Wayne Longmore is a Senior Collection manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Author
Rory O'Brien is a Collection Manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Cite this page as:
Longmore, N. W. & O'Brien, R., 2011, Masked Lapwing, Vanellus miles, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7914
