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Project Noah Nature School
Vanellus miles novaehollandiae
A large bird with long legs. The top of the head is black with a thin strip of black running down the back of the neck and around either side and down to the chest. The back is grey in colour. The beak is yellow and with a small yellow wattle on each side. There is no significant observable difference between the sexes.
open grasslands and marshes
These birds are native to Australia. In the south eastern states they are also known as the spur-winged plover. They build their nests on open ground and often around playgrounds and nature strips. They are very territorial and very protective when the young ones hatch. I have seen people being swooped at by these birds. They are a strange but common sight around the suburbs - you are bound to see a pair on a football oval or playground at some stage..
Spotted on Apr 1, 2012
Submitted on Apr 1, 2012
2 Comments
I totally understand Shanna. A school kid and I were attacked, all because we were trying to get the lapwing chick back onto the grass and off the road. I had to give up but the brave kid threw his jacket over his head and literally scooped the chick and heaved it onto the grass - the parent birds were bashing him about the head with their wings - it was scary.
They're not very big, but they're scary. There was a pair that set up camp near my uni dorm years ago, and they would chase people by running after them (they didn't even bother with the swooping). Everyone was terrified! (The baby ones are SO CUTE though!)