Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Masked Lapwing

Vanellus miles

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Germany Birds of Spain Birds of Indonesia Birds of New Zealand Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia

By family

Plovers of Australia Plovers of Germany Plovers of Spain Plovers of Indonesia Plovers of New Zealand Plovers of New South Wales Plovers of Northern Territory Plovers of Queensland Plovers of South Australia

See what's near you right now

The Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 387 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae Plovers
Genus Vanellus
Species miles

Where it lives

Widespread inland New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 387 g
Diet: Invertebrate-eaters
Family: Charadriidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Masked Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Masked Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) is a member of the Charadriidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU widespread inland New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 387 g, with a wing length of about 24.5 cm and a tail of around 10.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Masked Lapwing — Flight call

Recorded by Étienne Leroy Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Masked Lapwing?

The Masked Lapwing is a large bird that weighs around 387 g.

Where does the Masked Lapwing live?

The Masked Lapwing is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU widespread inland New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Masked Lapwing belong to?

The Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Masked Lapwing eat?

The Masked Lapwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Masked Lapwing migrate?

The Masked Lapwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Masked Lapwing endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Masked Lapwing make?

1 real field recording of the Masked Lapwing — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Masked Lapwing's range?

The Masked Lapwing has a mapped global range of about 3.1 million km².