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Alice Springs Waste Stabilisation Ponds

The Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), sometimes referred to as the Spur-winged Plover, because each of its wings has a yellow spur at the ‘elbow’ (or carpal joint). The Masked lapwings are said to use these spurs when diving at potential predators or intruders, especially during the breeding season, or when the eggs are just about to hatch and when the chicks are running around. These attacks are mainly for scaring away the predator or intruder.

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer

A large common and conspicuous bird, the Masked Lapwing is native to Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. They are often seen spending most of its time on the ground searching for food such as insects and worms. A mating pair can often be seen on expanses of grass in urban area (such as football pitch or parks.

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer

Masked Lapwings are ground-dwelling birds that are closely related to the waders. The Masked Lapwing have large yellow wattles covering the face, is mainly white below, a black crown, with brown wings and back.

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds, NT © Dorothy Latimer

The photographs presented here were taken in the month of February, September and December.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Vertebrata
  • Informal: Gnathostomata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Charadriiformes
  • Family: Charadriidae
  • Subfamily: Vanellinae
  • Genus: Vanellus
  • Subgenus: Vanellus (Lobipluvia)
  • Species: Vanellus miles
  • Subspecies:
    • Vanellus (Lobipluvia) miles miles (Boddaert, 1783)
    • Vanellus (Lobipluvia) miles novaehollandiae (Stephens, 1819)

Footnote & References

  1. Vanellus (Lobipluvia) miles (Boddaert, 1783), Masked Lapwing, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Vanellus (Lobipluvia) miles

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