We were driving around looking at houses when we saw this light grey (I think) bird with a colorful head running accross the road in front of us (not flying).

We laughed and thought it looked really funny. We then noticed a girl walking on on the other side of the road to it and when she saw the bird she immediately turned around and ran in the opposite direction.

It then saw the girl and went for her! Very scary.

It wasn't a magpie for any other bird I have found on Google so far.

http://www.ourbrisbane.com/suburbs/magpie-alert

Any ideas please?

Probably a plover http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgu...ed=0CCsQ9QEwBQ. They're little buggers for attacking kids.

Yeah it could be that. I'll ask the family to confirm when they are awake.

Thanks.

Sounds like a Bush (Plain) Turkey to me

Yep - probably a plover. They are very territorial as they lay their eggs on the ground. They are also known as Masked Lapwings which helps to explain the odd head gear effect!

Yep thanks. It was one of those. The wife and kids confirm that's what it was.

Yeah it must have been attacking to protect it's eggs.

Heres a Plover: http://tagr.com.au/multimedia/photos...rs/plover4.jpg
They are fierce and tend to run at you, or fly directly at you at chest height which can be intimidating.

By comparison, Magpies: http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/...Magpie_620.jpg tend to swoop from high up and behind and tap you on the head as they fly past.

Scrub Turkeys: http://cassidys.ch/images/Scrub_Turkey.JPG do run around the streets in a manic unpredictable way, but tend not to be threatening in any way whatsoever (much like rural UK pheasants).

From the OPs description Plovers seem like the most likely offender.

When I lived in Qld, I worked in the site office for the Bruce Highway Upgrade at Caboolture. A pair of plovers were nesting in the grass outside the southbound BP services. It was a nightmare for the lads, lol - they couldn't go anywhere near it or they were attacked.

Work had to be suspended on that section until egg had hatched and Plovers and baby had moved on.

We have a pair just down the raod, and not only are they aggressive, they are very noist too, even in the middle of the night.

Defo the plovers!

They sure are aggressive!

Hope I don't live near any then.

Nothing a good baseball bat wouldn't fix.

If a baseball bat had been introduced into the equation before the enviro boys became involved, they might have got away with it..

I got "attacked" by them at Raby Bay park. They had chicks that I never noticed and walked past them and they got quite loud.

Had to shout to tell the kids to stop and turn round.

Couple of days later my wife was speaking to a local and she said they have been attacking dogs, kids and even going for cars.

They did have about 6 chicks but they was down to 3 when i saw them and the lady said that they have lost a few due to standing up to cars

Yes, plovers are annoying little gits. I have not heard of them actually injuring anybody though.