It range includes much of northern and northeastern India, and extends through Southeast Asia to Vietnam.

The masked lapwing of Australasia was at one time also called "spur-winged plover" (and still is in New Zealand), completing the name confusion.

This species resembles the closely related spur-winged lapwing of Africa, and has sometimes been considered conspecific.

It has a black crest, crown, face and central throat and grey-white neck sides and nape.

It feeds on insects, worms, crustaceans and molluscs in nearby wet grassland and farmland.