Blacksmith Lapwing vs Masked Lapwing

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Medium156 gWetland

Blacksmith lapwings are very boldly patterned in black, grey and white, possibly warning colours to predators. It is one of five lapwing species (two African, one Asian and two Neotropical) that share the characteristics of red eyes and a bold pied plumage, with a carpal (wing) spur adorning the wrist joint; a sharp black protrusion which they use to aggressively defend their young from potential threats, through persistent aerial dives typically targeting the head.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Cliff from I now live in Arlington, VA (Outside Washington DC), USA · CC BY 2.0

Masked Lapwing

Vanellus miles

Large387 gGrassland

The masked lapwing is the largest representative of the family Charadriidae. It measures from 30 to 37 cm (12 to 15 in) in length and has a wingspan of 75–85 cm (30–33 in), and has a conspicuous yellow spur on the carpal joint of each wing. The nominate subspecies (V. m. miles) weighs 191–300 g (6.7–10.6 oz), while the southern race (V. m. novaehollandiae) is larger and weighs 296–412 g (10.4–14.5 oz). The subspecies from northern Australia and New Guinea (V. m. miles) has an all-white neck and large yellow wattles, with the male having a distinctive mask and larger wattles.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kaldari · CC0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blacksmith Lapwing and Masked Lapwing.