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  Masked Plover ( Vanellus miles )



Masked Plover | Vanellus miles photo
Masked Plover photographed on suburban footpath, Brisbane. It is quite common in the suburbs, often heard calling at night.

Photograph by ozwildlife. Some rights reserved.

Masked Plover | Vanellus miles photo
Masked Plover in flight showing the spurs on wings.

Photograph by Julian Robinson. Some rights reserved.




MASKED PLOVER FACTS

distribution map showing range of Vanellus miles in Australia

Description
The Masked Plover is white below, with brown wings and back and a black crown. It has yellow wattle son face, and have a thorny spur from the joint of each wing

Other Names
Masked Lapwing

Size
36cm

Environment
marshes, mudflats, beaches, grasslands, urban areas

Food
insects, larvae, earthworms

Breeding
Nest is a scrape in the ground in open area. Lays 3-5 eggs. The young birds are covered in down and can leave the nest a few hours after hatching.

Range
common throughout northern, central and eastern Australia



Classification
Class:Aves
Order:Charadriiformes
Family:Charadriidae
Genus:Vanellus
Species:miles
Common Name:Masked Plover