Javan Lapwing

Java Lapwing (Vanellus macropterus )

The Java Lapwing (Vanellus macropterus ), also referred to as Black Belly plover, was a shorebird distinguished from Java. Alleged evidence of Sumatra and Timor are not confirmed. He is probably extinct today.

Description

He reached a length of 28 centimeters. Head, throat and neck were black. A long yellow wattles ran from the forehead above the beak base to the throat. The lower throat and chest was gray. The back and wings were light brown, but the flight feathers had a black coloration. The upper tail-coverts, and the upper half of the tail were white. The rest of the tail was black with a narrow white terminal band. The belly and thighs were black. Rump, under tail-coverts, under wing-coverts and shoulders were white. The eyes were dark brown. The beak was black, but flesh-colored at the base. The legs were orange and the run was yellow.

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of Java Lapwing is still not properly researched. Saved evidence is only available from Java. The origin of one individual and two eggs is unclear, but they could come from Sumatra. Furthermore, three additional specimens have been seen on Timor, but this is unconfirmed. Its habitat is steppe marshes in the river deltas in the northern and eastern Java.

Way of life

About his life almost nothing is known. During the rainy season, he stayed in the least flooded areas. He was also found on wetlands (including on the pastures of the water buffalo ), adjacent wetlands with strong Seggenbewuchs and low water plants and vegetation in open areas near ponds. He was probably high spatial fidelity and entered in isolated pairs in fairly spacious areas on.

Extinction

The reasons for its extinction is also almost nothing is known. He was last seen in June 1940 and then suddenly disappeared. In older literature was often merciless hunting of the speech. Probably the main reason was rather the conversion of its habitat to farmland. In addition, you are also not sure whether the Java Lapwing is really extinct. Since 1978 he is a nature reserve. Due to the fact that large swamp areas of Java and the Sunda Islands are not yet properly explored and an unconfirmed sighting in 2004, it is classified by the IUCN as critically endangered.