Foot pattering by Masked Lapwings

["Jo Wieneke" <>]

I realise that the foot pattering thread was running a few weeks ago but
I've just come home after a few weeks away and would like to add to it.

A few years ago on Magnetic Island a pair of Masked Lapwings fed daily at
low tide on the beach in front of our house. In the Townsville area the two
races interbreed and this pair were easily told apart as one bird had a
small amount of black on the side of the neck. This bird foot-pattered
whenever they were feeding. The other, only once that I saw.   I've since
watched lapwings feeding on short grass and noticed that some birds will
foot patter consistently and the others rarely or not at all.

Jo Wieneke