Masked Lapwing

These days, Masked Lapwings are often seen in urban spaces such as parks, ovals, even home gardens at times. They are a bird that is at ease with being in open spaces. In fact, as many people will testify, they even lay their eggs in very exposed spots: nature strips, railway yards, sports grounds, rooftops, etc. Although adapted to urban living, Masked Lapwings natural surroundings usually include coastlines, grasslands and wetlands.

At Thomas Maddock Reserve Drouin - recent bird survey

The ‘old’ common name, Spur-winged Plover, is derived from the fact the bird has a spur on the ‘elbow’ of its wing. The spur is normally hidden under some feathers and is used to deter invaders of its territory. Especially when nesting, Masked Lapwings will swoop cats, dogs, other birds, people, etc, if the nest or the babies are approached too closely. Despite some urban myths, the spur is not venomous. The parent bird will sometimes employ the ‘broken wing’ method of drawing people away from their nest site too.

At nest - spur clearly showing (credit: Australian Museum)

The ‘mask’ refers to the look given by the yellow wattles and lappets on the face.

Lapwings and plovers are two separate but closely related families. Also, there are several species and races of lapwings. ‘Our’ Masked Lapwing should perhaps more correctly be called the Black-shouldered Lapwing. The scientific epithet for Masked Lapwing is Vanellus miles. ‘Vanellus’ = lapwing (a diminutive of vannus = winnowing/fan – the sound of the wings flapping in flight) and ‘miles’ = soldier (upright stance, attack…?).

At Cranbourne Botanic Gardens with babies

Masked Lapwings feed on insects and their larvae, and worms. Their call is a rapid and loud ‘kekekekekekek…’, often heard after dark.