Masked Lapwing, Sydney, Australia
Various dates

The Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles (once more-widely known as the Masked Plover) is common throughout northern, central and eastern Australia. It inhabits marshes, mudflats, beaches and grasslands and is often seen in urban areas and parks. Where this species is used to human presence, it may allow a close approach (the last three of these photos were taken in Sydney Botanic Gardens, for example), but it’s otherwise very wary of people.

This species is the largest representative of the family Charadriidae, at 35 cm (14 in) and 370 g (13 oz). There are two distinct forms which until recently were thought to be separate species: Vanellus miles miles of Northern Australia has an all-white neck, small cap, and large yellow wattles; V. m. novaehollandiae of the southern and eastern states has a dark hind-neck, full dark cap, and has smaller wattles.

Photos copyright Charlie Moores