Bird Guide

Masked Lapwing vs Southern Lapwing

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)

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: Mark Clarke · CC BY 4.0
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Large327 gGrassland

This lapwing is the only crested wader in South America. It is 32 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) in length and weighs approximately 250 to 425 g (8.8 to 15.0 oz). The upperparts are mainly brownish grey, with a bronze glossing on the shoulders. The head is particularly striking; mainly grey with a black forehead and throat patch extending onto the black breast. A white border separates the black of the face from the grey of the head and crest. The rest of the underparts are white and the eye ring, legs, and most of the bill are pink.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Francisco Javier Argel from Valdivia, Chile · CC BY 2.0

Learn this pair in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

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