# Masked Lapwing (*Vanellus miles*) The Masked Lapwing is a fun bird with a black crown and bright yellow wattles on its face. It loves to run around in open areas and can be found near water, making it a lively sight to see! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Masked Plover ![Masked Lapwing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vanellus_miles_novaehollandiae.jpg&width=800) Photo: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vanellus_miles_novaehollandiae.jpg) ## Appearance The Masked Lapwing has a striking black head and nape, a white body, and a brown back. Its most distinctive features are the bright yellow wattles on its face, forming a 'mask', and a prominent sharp yellow spur on each wing. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Charadriidae - **Genus:** Vanellus ## Interesting facts - Lapwing chicks can run and find their own food just hours after hatching! - Their 'mask' is actually soft, bright yellow skin called wattles! - These birds are often heard before they are seen, thanks to their loud calls. - They build their nests on the ground, often in surprising open places! ## Special abilities - **Winged Warrior:** Masked Lapwings have a sharp yellow spur on each wing that helps them defend their nests and young from predators. - **Master of Deception:** Masked Lapwings can perform a 'broken-wing display' to distract predators away from their hidden ground nests. - **Super Sensors:** Masked Lapwings have large eyes and excellent hearing that help them spot tiny insects and worms on the ground. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-37 cm - **Wingspan:** 75-85 cm - **Weight:** 0.3-0.45 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-4 - **Incubation:** 28-32 days ## Diet & Feeding Masked Lapwings mostly eat insects and other small invertebrates found in the soil. - **Primary Foods:** beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, worms, larvae, spiders - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Cats often prey on eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes are a major predator of eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** Australian Raven (*Corvus coronoides*) — Ravens may steal eggs or young chicks. - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food source, often pulled from soil. - **Eats:** [Differential Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/differential-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus differentialis*) — Lapwings actively hunt various grasshopper species. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a Masked Lapwing, watch from a distance so you don't scare it or its babies. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Masked Lapwing? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Masked Lapwing? 30-37 cm ### What is Masked Lapwing's wingspan? 75-85 cm ### How much does Masked Lapwing weigh? 0.3-0.45 kg ### How long does Masked Lapwing live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Masked Lapwing move? 50 km/h ### What does Masked Lapwing eat? Masked Lapwings mostly eat insects and other small invertebrates found in the soil. ### Where is Masked Lapwing usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Luckenwalde](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-luckenwalde) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Masked Lapwing: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/masked-lapwing)