Javan lapwing
species of bird
The Javan lapwing (Vanellus macropterus) also known as Javanese lapwing and Javanese wattled lapwing is a wader in the lapwing family.
Distribution and habitat
This large, long-legged wader inhabited wide steppe-like marshes in river deltas and behind coastal sand dunes in Java. The species is known historically from two areas on the island of Java, one in the west along the north coast and one in the east along the south coast.
Extinction
The species was last seen in 1940. Habitat degradation and loss may have been to blame for the species decline. The IUCN classified it as extinct in their 1994 and 1996 assessments, but uplisted it in 2000 and listed the species as Critically Endangered (CR).
In an assessment dated October 1, 2016, the IUCN justified the classification:
"This conspicuous species has not been recorded since 1940, and it is likely to have declined severely owing to extensive habitat degradation and destruction, probably compounded by significant hunting pressure. However, not all potential habitat has been surveyed, and local reports need to be followed up with dedicated surveys. Any remaining population is likely to be tiny, and for these reasons it is treated as Critically Endangered."
The IUCN clarifies by citing "unconfirmed reports" by locals from 2013. While acknowledging that finding live individuals is "unlikely", insight gained from observations in the 1920s may point to additional habitats not previously considered.
The public source identifies “Javan lapwing” as species of bird. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Javan, lapwing and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Javan lapwing”, the useful work is to connect “species of bird” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 29, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q596310. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1940, 1994, 1996 and 2000.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
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This entry incorporates text from “Javan lapwing” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.