Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles
IUCN status: Least concern
Subspecies:
V. m. miles (Northern Australia)
V. m. novaehollandiae (Southern Australia)
Identification
Subspecies novaehollandiae: Adult: The crown and nape of the head and the breast are black. The rest of the back is chestnut brown. The underparts are white. The Masked Lapwing has distinctive yellow wattles on the side of the face, a yellow bill and a yellow orbital ring. The legs are a dull red.
Juvenile: Similar to the adult though the head colour is greyer. The wattles are smaller and less intense in colour, the legs are greyish.
Subspecies miles: Smaller and more slender. Legs appear longer. Wattles are larger, covering forehead and forecrown. Lappets are long and triangular.
Hybrids occur.
Confusing Species
Banded Lapwing
Masked Lapwing. Greg Dietrich.
Distribution
Distribution
Commonly found throughout the eastern half of Australia particularly in the south east: a vagrant to south of Western Australia. It inhabits open areas near to water, because of this it has benefited from man’s development such as playing fields, park land, improved pasture and even the central strip of dual-carriage roads. Seems to be expanding its range.
Migratory habits
Resident. Tends to flock in non-breeding period. No movements over long-distances have been noted.
Breeding
The nest is a shallow scrape that is lined with twigs and grasses. 3-4 eggs are usually laid in winter and spring. There is a large loss of eggs and young because of predators and disturbance.
Best sites in Queensland to see Banded Lapwing
| Location | Lists seen | Total lists | Percentage |
| Fox well Rd wetland | 95 | 97 | 97.9 |
| Tuan | 28 | 30 | 93.3 |
| France Rd Turf Farm (Edmonton) | 1339 | 1455 | 92.0 |
| Greenfield Turf Farm (Cribb Rd, Brendale) (roadside birding only) | 163 | 178 | 91.6 |
| Orchard Rd dam near Scenic Rd (Redland Bay) | 336 | 367 | 91.6 |
| Duck World, Brandon | 61 | 67 | 91.0 |
| Horse Paddocks (Dump Rd, Mt Isa) | 85 | 97 | 87.6 |
| Finland Road, Paradise Waters | 1607 | 1908 | 84.2 |
Best places to see Masked Lapwing by Region
References
- eBird. 2021. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: http://www.ebird.org (Accessed: Date 12/4/2026)
- Rogers A, Fuller RA & Amano T (2023) Australia’s migratory shorebirds: Trends and prospects. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. University of Queensland, Brisbane.
- Driessen, J., Kidd, L. R., Weller, D. R., Purnell, C., Maguire, G., Jaensch, R., and LeClair, S. M. (2025). Australian National Directory of Important Migratory Shorebird Habitat. Report for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne.
- https://sproggies63.github.io/birding_apps/