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Masked Lapwing

Vanellus miles

Least Concern
Wingspan
49.1 cm
Weight
310.0 g
Family
Charadriidae
Order
Charadriiformes

About

Masked Lapwing: 30–37 cm, large noisy Australasian lapwing with yellow facial wattles and sharp wing spurs. Common resident in open grassland, parks, and wetland margins throughout Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. Famously aggressive in defence of ground nest. Feeds on invertebrates. Largely sedentary and adaptable to urban environments.

Physical Description

Measurement Value Imperial
Wingspan 49.1 cm 19.3 in
Weight 310.0 g 10.93 oz

Habitat & Range

Conservation Status

Least Concern
IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 28-30 days. Fledging: 35-56 days.

Clutch Size

3-4

Taxonomy

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes (Shorebirds & Gulls)
Family Charadriidae (Plovers & Lapwings)
Genus Vanellus
Species Vanellus miles

Distribution

Masked Lapwing has been recorded in 6 countries.

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Present Not recorded
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countries highlighted

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Masked Lapwing endangered?
The Masked Lapwing has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the Masked Lapwing nest?
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 28-30 days. Fledging: 35-56 days.
How big is the Masked Lapwing?
The Masked Lapwing has a wingspan of 49.1 cm, weight of 310.0 g.
What order and family does the Masked Lapwing belong to?
The Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) belongs to the order Charadriiformes and the family Charadriidae.

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