Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles
Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_2569 20180517 - miles. CLICK for one at Moreton Telegraph Station, CYPAL, FN Qld 20220806.
Notes: Brown above, white below; large yellow wattle
hangs over the bill. Wing spurs visible
when agitated. Ssp
novaehollandiae has a black shoulder band (not meeting in middle
as on
Banded Lapwing)
and a larger black cap. Ssp miles lacks black shoulder band &
has a larger
yellow wattle. Noisy. Abundant in most open country;
common in urban parks, sporting fields,
paddocks, riverbeds,
wetlands, & coastal habitats.
Range from Morcombe & Stewart©
Saltwater Creek, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_7661 20231208 - miles in attack mode. CLICK for adult covering chicks,foreshore, Cairns 20231107.
Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_3293 20191101 - miles flying w. wing spurs visible. CLICK for another 20230214.
Esplanade, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_9766 20231029 - miles on guard w. two chicks. CLICK threat has passed, settling down.
Esplanade, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_3128 20191101 - miles w. chick. CLICK for pics of various chicks, Cairns.
Batemans Bay, SE NSW IMG_9465 20200219 - novaehollandiae wing spurs visible. CLICK to compare head with that ofmiles on foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld 20170909.
Wattle Forest, Royal National Park, E NSW IMG_0246 20201216 - novaehollandiae
Bowra Sanctuary, Cunnamulla, S Qld IMG_6364 20180617 - novaehollandiae
Foreshore, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_7265 20231205 - hybrids of miles and novaehollandiae CLICK for one that looks likenovaehollandiae there.
Esplanade, Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_3241 20191101 - miles
Esplanade, Cairns North, FN Qld IMG_3345 20191101 - miles chick