masked lapwing; masked plover; spur-winged plover
A bird species (Vanellus miles) native to Australia and New Zealand, known for its yellow facial wattles and spur on the wing. In Japanese, the name is usually written in katakana.
In Australia, masked lapwings are often seen in parks.
Katakana spelling is the most common written form for this bird name.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in specialized contexts; the word is usually written in kana.
The Japanese name ズグロトサカゲリ literally means 'black-headed crested plover', from 頭黒 (black-headed), 鶏冠 (crest), and 鳧 (plover). The exact derivation is uncertain, but it is a descriptive name based on the bird's appearance.