Masked Lapwing — Australian Bird Identification Guide

Named for the bright yellow facial wattles that form a mask, it fiercely defends its nest with noisy swooping attacks.

⚠️Not listed

🍃Indigenous: Jirrirdirdi, Baaldharradharra, A-Batjjurlerrerlerreh, Betdelerrelerreh, Birrkpirrk, Birrbirrg, Berrerhberrerh, Bidirrirri, Birrkbirrk, Jindarragarragnyin, Didar Djerap

At a glance

FamilyPlovers and Lapwings

SizeLarge

RarityCommon

Habitatopen woodland, sparse woodland, closed forest, grassland, and waterbodies

Best timeReported across most months in Queensland, with no narrow seasonal peak.

Sounds

Sound sample

0:000:00

Recorded by Étienne Leroy

Range map

Occurrence window

200approx hotspots

777778approx records

7states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Two subspecies: southern “Black-shouldered” subspecies has a black shoulder band (not meeting in middle as on Banded Lapwing) and a larger black cap. Northern subspecies lacks black shoulder band and has a larger yellow wattle. Only “Black-shouldered” subspecies occurs in New Zealand.