Happy Wild Bird Wednesday :0)
Click the link below to see photographs from many talented folk around the world and feast your eyes on our fine feathered friends!!
A curious looking bird they are indeed. Australia has some truly beautiful birds, but this is not one of them! It does has its own appeal and I personally find them rather charming in appearance.
I would like to introduce you to the Masked Plover, AKA the Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) taken near the beach front in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
The mask is rather leathery and very distinctive – they are not pretty but rather fascinating in a sinister way. They are similar in appearance to Plovers or Lapwings the world over and share the behaviour of many when it comes to protecting their young, diving on predators far larger than themselves and feigning a broken wing to lure enemies away from their nests, in the same way as the Killdeer, a American Plover
MBK Wildlife Photography 
What a unique looking bird!
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Really bizarre to see in the flesh. It does look like thick leather hanging down!!
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A new and interesting species for me.
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Feigning an injury? That’s so clever! Though devious. Birds are much smarter than we think! This plover is so interesting and your image of him is stellar!
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They really are smart – I have not witnessed the feigning first hand but they hold out a wing, as though broken, and hobble around, moving slowly but surely away from the nest then take off at the last moment when they have got the predator to move far enough away!!
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Very cool looking bird, I would love to see one in the wild. Great post and photo.
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Much appreciated Eileen
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Definitely curious looking bird! Most of him looks like the plovers in the paddocks around my house!
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If you took off the mask he would be very similar to the UK plovers too. It is surprising how much it alters the appearance
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Yes I know that bird as they have attached me many times.
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The detail in the tail feathers is impressive. And a very nice set of wattles. Or are they lappets? Give me a good old Peewit any day.
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I did get away unscathed, but I suspect I did not see them when the chicks ahd been born!
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Many thanks Andrew. I am old school and still call the UK Lapwing by the Peewit name – so much nicer!! The Peewit, which I remember seeing regularly as a child in Hampshire, is now on the Red list in the UK. I saw my first one for years last month and got some lovely shots – I think I shall put one up next Wild Bird Wednesday to show the comparison
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We very occasionally get Northern Lapwing in HK. Almost twitchable these days. Maybe people will twitch them in Britain soon. Very sad. I like the old names too. Do show your photos, James. I’d love to see a Peewit again.
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This variety looks as if he has a bit of yellow balloon wrapped around his beak. A curious, fascinating character.
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Lol Gemma, they do look unreal :0)
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Many thanks Frank
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Consider it done, Andrew.
I shall get the Peewit up on Wild Bird Wednesday next week and stir up some Hampshire memories for you 🙂
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Fascinating bird!! Boom,Bobbi and Gary.
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Much appreciated Boom. Bobbi and Gary!!
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Just amazing! So unique. I am so glad you shared him with us!
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They are unlike any bird I have seen before. Many thanks Marie 🙂
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An interesting looking bird indeed.
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unique looking for sure, such a joy to see.
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In our family (nobody else would be so stupid!) we call these “Birds of Stress” – because to their tendency to rush about shrieking for no apparent reason! Nice picture.
Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne
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Many thanks Stewart. I love that name!
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