Masked Lapwings (Vanellus miles) are very common around here. There are numbers of them living on the empty house blocks. I have also seen them around the bay in among the shorebirds. They prefer places where the grass is not too tall and make a nest by simply finding a grass clump and sitting down on it.
They used to be called Spur-winged Plovers because of the bony spur on their wings. They are most aggressive birds and swoop down on predators and use the spur on their wings to drive them off. Unfortunately, when they have a nest or young ones they see anything that moves close to them as a threat and dive in to attack. It is impossible to walk safely along the road if a pair of them are nesting close by.
Because they are so aggressive I let my dog chase them out of my yard. However, they know that the dog is safely tied up at night so a pair of them flies in just as it is getting dark and stays for the night. The empty house blocks are open to roaming cats and dogs at night and they obviously prefer the safety of my yard.
I love them. We used to have many of them around, but now they moved.
ReplyDeletevery interesting-looking birds. i'd hate the aggressive part, though.
ReplyDeleteGreat captures Mick! Such a beautiful bird.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this kind of bird. And I love birds setting on my yard. But we have barn cats and lately I found bird feathers on the ground. I think there is something going on here in the farm with out our knowing ^_^
ReplyDeletehouse finch
Really interesting looking bird, and must be quite smart. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a cool looking bird. Great photo. It is a shame they are agressive.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! I get a kick out of 'cheeky birds'!
ReplyDeleteWild looking bird and very formidible too as you describe. I suggest the Masked lapwing evolve an additional leg spur like the one pheasants down in the city use to fend off roaming cats and dogs. Excellent takes and terrific description.
ReplyDeleteInteresting bird, Mick. They sound like disagreeable daytime neighbors, but I guess you would not begrudge giving them shelter at nightghbors.
ReplyDeleteAnother of your unusual birds. The variety of birds around the world amazes me.
ReplyDeleteLovely looking birds Mick. Never seen these before.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. :)
ReplyDeleteHi there - when I am not wearing my "I'm a serious birder" hat I refer to these birds as "Birds of Stress" - they seem to live their lives on the edge of a nervous breakdown and attack anything that comes near. We have also caught as few (not intentionally!) when banding and are they ever noisy - they would put a flock of corellas to shame!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M
haha - the birds have a watchdog. At least they aren't nesting in your yard. sounds like that would be bit hard to deal with.
ReplyDeleteSaw one or two when I was in Brisbane, but didn't realize they were that common.
Great info and photos! I guess that aggressiveness enables them to survive as a species.
ReplyDeleteA lovely bird to see...
ReplyDeleteHighly interesting bird with aggressive habits. Can they really cause harm?
ReplyDeleteOH MY...never seen this one before--its a stunning bird!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. A bird I have not seen enven in pictures. So weirdlooking in the face and slim body. Strange!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't like to be chased by them, but they are beautiful, and they are new to me. Love their yellow faces! Great captures!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing birds from other places.. Michelle
ReplyDeletePretty! I'll probably show you one of our lapwings on coming WBW.
ReplyDeleteWow! Are you sure this is not a winged dinosaur?
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic bird! I don't think I've ever seen it before and I love it. Wonderful shots too.
ReplyDeleteI find it odd that they are so aggressive in your area. I sat within 4" of a nesting female who actually retracted her spurs, so did the male after she had called in the cavellery.
ReplyDeleteWow what an interesting bird Mick. It just goes to show that one man's common bird is another's rarity.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty funny that they just plop down on a tuft of grass for nesting. Great photos!