Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Family: Jacanas · Status: Rare migrant · Size: 29–31.5 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds from the Indian subcontinent to east Asia. Northern breeders from the Himalayas and China migrate south through Indochina, wintering on the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java.

Identification

In flight, white wings with black wingtips are distinctive in all plumages. Non-breeding adult has drab brown upperparts, white underparts, short tail, yellow-buff stripe from supercilium down sides of neck, dark crown, and black eyestripe extending down neck-sides forming a breastband. Breeding adult has brown back, white head and foreneck, black hindcrown, yellow hindneck, greatly elongated central tail feathers, and mostly white wings. Juvenile resembles non-breeding adult but has indistinct breastband and eyestripe, with yellow on face and neck replaced by pale rufous-brown.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes with floating vegetation; also reservoirs, ponds, flooded quarries, and mangroves.

Behaviour

Forages on the surfaces of floating vegetation and in open water.