Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles. Generally called a Plover, Masked Plover or Spur-winged Plover these are widespread throughout northern, central and eastern Australia and are also found in Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and New Zealand.

Generally called a Plover, Masked Plover or Spur-winged Plover these are widespread throughout northern, central and eastern Australia and are also found in Indonesia, New Guinea, New Caledonia and New Zealand. Masked Lapwings prefer moist, open environments such as the edges of wetlands but are adaptable and can often be found in arid areas, here you will have seen them on almost any stretch of open ground, including around beaches and in parks, gardens, ovals and paddocks.
They spend most of their time on the ground feeding alone, in pairs or in small groups searching for food such as insects, their larvae and earthworms.
Males and females look alike and breed whenever conditions are suitable, the nest is just a simple hollow in the open away from ground cover and 2 or 3 young are raised.
As many of you will know the nesting area is fiercely defended, however the attack is intended to be intimidating and the bird relies on this as an effective deterrent. They rarely if ever make contact because this would be very risky for the bird and seems to be avoided, this knowledge is small comfort when you are the object of their wrath.