Masked Lapwing – or Spur winged Plovers as they were once called – are familiar birds over much of Eastern and Northern Australia. I tend to see them most often in their natural environment - the grass in the middle of roundabouts, road-side verges, football ovals and under my window when I am trying to sleep in!
We call them “the bird of stress” for their tendency to fly around shrieking for no apparent reason. They will also swoop you if the fancy takes them – and their old name comes from the fact that the have black-tipped yellow spurs on their “shoulders” which they use against predators and otherwise innocent pedestrians!
In the hand they are a remarkable bird, with the yellow face mask feeling like soft leather – but when we do happen to catch one you need ear plugs!
You can find more birds from around the world at World Bird Wednesday.
You can also see the most recent post on my other blog by clicking the Paying Ready Attention picture on the RHS of the screen.
Enjoy the birds.
Funny name for these guys! Love his yellow face.
ReplyDeletethe bird of stress? too funny!!! what a great bird, stewart!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful bird to see Stewart..another newbie for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
What a cool looking bird, Stewart! I love the face. Fantastic photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird. I had never seen.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
He's a really neat bird -- and I do know a few people who engage in that "stress" behavior! If they nest on the ground, maybe the behavior is calculated to draw people away from the nest.
ReplyDeleteNice shots - that's a great-looking bird.
ReplyDeleteHI Stewart -- forgive me for using this blog to comment on the other blog coincidentally named "Paying Ready Attention" ;>)... I loved your latest post. I wish I were a three or four or five decades younger -- I would do that hostel thing! You saw wonderful things -- I can't believe those orchids. Just, actually, loved the whole trip. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNice photos but these are not my favorite birds! There's a pair next door that has been swooping me every time I set foot outside my yard!! Not nice at all!!
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing those at the zoo, they reminded me of some alien from Star Wars. Cool birds.
ReplyDeletejust nice....happy ww :)
ReplyDeleteStrange-looking bird! It's amazing what nature/evolution comes up with. Thanks for posting these photos, Stewart.
ReplyDeleteso cute...it looks like he's dressed for winter with his cap and scarf.
ReplyDeleteInteresting bird, I've never seen it before!
ReplyDeleteLovely post:)
That mask is great!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteStress bird? Stewart, I thought for a moment you may be joking. To bad such pretty bird has such a despicable disposition. Once again, thanks for the introduction to a smashing new bird.
ReplyDeleteCheers to you Sir!
What a lovely bird!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing bird! I can't believe all this information. "Stress bird" indeed! Remarkable colors and behavior!
ReplyDeleteGeez, you sent be back into my archives to my spur-wing plovers from 2 years ago. It just shows how unobservant I was, I had not noticed the black tips to those golden spurs. I guess I also never caught any because they never were very noisy when I was around.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the information.
Handsome bird! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteI like its yellow face! We don't have these birds where I live.
ReplyDeleteBut we do have Blue Jays and their call can be jarring to the nerves.