The Masked Lapwing A Wary Ground Sentinel

Standing amidst a short, green lawn is a strikingly marked shorebird, the Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), common across Australia…

Standing amidst a short, green lawn is a strikingly marked shorebird, the Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), common across Australia and New Zealand. This particular individual is easily identified by its prominent yellow fleshy wattles that dangle on either side of its beak, extending back across the face, and its bright yellow bill tipped with a black cere. The head is a stark combination of a black crown and a white nape and throat, contrasting sharply with the olive-grey back and white underparts. Its long, slender, dark grey legs are perfectly adapted for walking rapidly across open fields as it forages for insects and worms. The bird’s upright posture and intense, watchful gaze emphasize its notoriously territorial and aggressive nature, often defending its nest and young with loud calls and spectacular dive-bombing displays.