The Southern lapwing <i>(Vanellus chilensis)</i> is endemic to America and is well-known because of the vast expansion of its geographical distribution and its involvement in air accidents. Despite its popularity, there is no information concerning the genomic organization and karyotype of this species. Hence, because other species of the genus <i>Vanellus</i> have variable diploid numbers from 2n = 58 to 76, the aim of this report was to analyze the karyotype of <i>V</i>.<i> chilensis</i> by means of classical and molecular cytogenetics. We found that 2n = 78 and chromosome painting using probes of <i>Gallus gallus</i> (GGA) and <i>Leucopternis albicollis </i>revealed an organization similar to the avian putative ancestral karyotype, except for the fusion of GGA7 and GGA8, also found in <i>Burhinus oedicnemus</i>, the only Charadriiforme species analyzed by FISH so far. This rearrangement may represent a cytogenetic signature for this group and, in addition, must be responsible for the difference between the diploid number found in the avian putative ancestral karyotype (2n = 80) and <i>V. chilensis</i> (2n = 78).