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Masked Lapwing


Masked Lapwing
Photo Information
Copyright: Jane Magen (jaycee) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-03-07
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon SX10IS
Exposure: f/5.7, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-04-01 9:04
Viewed: 782
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Masked Lapwing

The Masked Lapwing is predominantly white below, with brown wings and back and a black crown. Birds have large yellow wattles covering the face, and are equipped with a thorny spur that projects from the wrist on each wing. The spur is yellow with a black tip. The Masked Lapwing has two subspecies resident in Australia. The southern subspecies has black on the hind neck and sides of breast, and has smaller facial wattles. Northern birds are smaller, without the partial black collar, but have a much larger wttle, which covers most of the side of the face. The sexes are similar in both subspecies, although the male tends to have a larger spur.

Masked Lapwings are large (33 to 38 cm), ground-dwelling birds that are closely related to the waders. They are unmistakable in both appearance and voice, which is a loud "kekekekekekekek".

Young Masked Lapwings are similar to the adult birds, but may have a darker back. The wing spur and facial wattles are either absent or smaller in size.

The Banded Lapwing, V. tricolor, is much smaller (25 to 29 cm). It has a mostly black head and upper breast, with a distinct white eyestripe and bib. It also has a distinctive red patch at the base of the bill.

The Masked Lapwing is common throughout northern, central and eastern Australia. There it inhabits marshes, mudflats, beaches and grasslands. It is often seen in urban areas. Where this bird is used to human presence, it may tolerate close proximity; otherwise it is very wary of people, and seldom allows close approach.

Masked Lapwings are also found in Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and New Zealand. The New Zealand and New Caledonian populations have been formed from birds that have flown there from Australia.

Masked Lapwings feed on insects and their larvae, and earthworms. Most food is obtained from just below the surface of the ground, but some may also be taken above the surface. Birds are normally seen feeding alone, in pairs or in small groups.

Masked Lapwings may breed at any time when conditions are suitable. Both sexes share the building of the nest, which is a simple scrape in the ground away from ground cover. This nest is often placed in inappropriate locations, such as school playing fields or the roofs of buildings.

Both sexes also incubate the three to five eggs and care for the young birds. The young birds are born with a full covering of down and are able to leave the nest and feed themselves a few hours after hatching.

The Masked Lapwing is notorious for its defense of its nesting site. This is particularly the case after the chicks have hatched. Adults will dive on intruders, or act as though they have a broken wing in an attempt to lure the intruder away from the nest.

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roges, nglen, Argus, boreocypriensis, bahadir, xTauruSx, Luis52, CeltickRanger, rcrick, eqshannon, Gert-Paassen, rousettus, zulfu, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To LordPotty: Same Birdjaycee 1 04-01 21:33
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Critiques [Translate]

hello Jane
this bird i have never seen before

wath a beauty
so good of details good sharpness
great shot
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 565 W: 0 N: 472] (2922)
  • [2009-04-01 10:13]

Hi Jane !

A beautiful picture with some interesting colors.
A photo very interesting and well played.
Congratulations.
Have a beautiful evening,
Adrian

Ciao Jane, great capture of lovely bird with splendid details and excellent sharpness, beautiful pose, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2860 W: 34 N: 8481] (31692)
  • [2009-04-01 10:56]

Hi Jane. What a fantastic looking bird one i have never see so thanks for posting. Your head on view lets us see all of the face details. With good detail and natural colours. All with interesting notes . well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3748 W: 186 N: 11161] (34473)
  • [2009-04-01 11:37]

Hello Jane,
Despite the difficult ligting you made a fine capture of the Masked Lapwing taken from an excellent POV to show the masked face and eye with superb sharpness from a nice low POV in the grass. These are relatively tame in the Botanical Gdns and I could get to within about 20 ft of one when we were there.
Anothe nice reminder!
Thanks,
Ivan

Hi BSJ,
What a pretty bird having such colours especially on her face:) like a mask with excellent clarity and nice composition.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

Hello Jane,
a beautiful picture of Masked Lapwing, very good frontal POV with fine detail and beautiful natural colours, lovely pose of this masked bird and nice composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hello Jane
Beautiful bird with nice pose. i liked it very much.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

Hello Jane, a cute bird and wonderful shot with very good colors and lighting. The pose also very nice.
TFS and regards, Deniz

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1109 W: 5 N: 3453] (12751)
  • [2009-04-01 16:22]

Hola Prima.
Never seen this bird before. Great camera and lens work. Fine details in the image thanks to Your skill.
TFS prima.
Luis52.

hello Jane

another exotic bird from your fine bird photos collection,
shot with fine POV, DOF and framing, excellent luminosity,
excellent sharpness and details, beautiful eye-contact with you,

TFS

Asbed

Hi Jane,
I was thinking that this masked Lapwing of yours looks nearly exactly like our Spur Winged Plover,so I did a bit of research.
Seems they are pretty much the same thing.
There's a slight variation (the Kiwi one has novaehollandiae tacked on the end) but they're both Vanellus miles
You can see our Kiwi one here
I also just realised that this was shot in Oz so no great surprise I guess.
Nice shot anyway.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Jane,

Great shot of this Masked Lapwing, looks like some harsh lighting but you've handeled it well, showing excellent detail in the plumage. Nicely framed and composed t.f.s

Cheers Rick :)

You must have really enjoyed this trip Jane...but only the ONE trip if you know what I mean...a fine shot of a beast unknown to me..I wonder if you had many telling you what various exotic things were or did you have to look some up?
Bob

Hello Jane,
an interesting bird ...
Feel the sun light is strong.
Excellent sharpness and details,
Greetins from,Istanbul.
Seyfi.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3260] (14687)
  • [2009-04-02 9:49]

Jane, Wow I am seeing this variety bird for the first time. Lovely clarity shot.ganesh

Hi Jane,
A lovely capture of this beautiful Masked Lapwing. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Jane,

splendid shot from this bird, fine colours.
Looks he is going to Carnaval!

Gert

Hello Jane
another great post from Autralia. Masked Lapwing very beautiful bird, but I have not seen it in real life. Today, I saw and captured several Spur-winged Lapwing. These birds very similar each other. your shot is great, with focus, POV, composition and colors. exposure also great. thanks for sharing, best wishes
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 1627] (5989)
  • [2009-04-02 21:46]

Here is a bird that I have only seem on the Zoo, and you got so
close... Great POV and colors.. Well done

Everton

That's marvellous, such a beautiful arrangement with nice colours.
Best wishes,
Achim

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1019 W: 0 N: 162] (858)
  • [2009-04-03 5:07]

Hello Jane,
A fine shot of this beautiful bird with great details and nice composition.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3551 W: 143 N: 5621] (18399)
  • [2009-04-04 22:36]

Hi Jane.
Both pictured photo model and shot are amazing. Reproduction of all bird's features are simply fantastic. Exposure, colours, sharpness, details are ultimate as well as impressive eye-contact and cute pose of the bird. I like sharpness and details of the surroundings too. Selected DOF is very suitable for the subject. Bravo and all my compliments
Alexei.

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