Pheasant-tailed Jacana
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| Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Scopoli, 1786) |
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The Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is a jacana. It is the only member of the genus Hydrophasianus. The jacanas are a group of waders in the family Charadriidae, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone. Capable of swimming although usually walking on the vegetation. The females are more colourful than the males and are polyandrous.
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[edit] Distribution
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana breeds in India, southeast Asia and Indonesia. It is sedentary in much of its range, but northern breeders from south China and the Himalaya migrate into peninsular India and southeast Asia. It is also resident in Taiwan, where it is considered endangered.
[edit] Description
This is the only jacana to have a separate breeding plumage, when it is a conspicuous and unmistakable bird. They are 31 cm long, but the females are larger than the males. In the breeding season, the long tail adds another 8 cm. The outermost primaries have a spatulate extension of 2 cm and the seventh primary has a broad protrusion.
Breeding adults are mainly black other than white wings, head and fore neck. The hind neck is golden. There is a striking white eyestripe. The legs and very long toes are grey.
Non-breeding adults lack the long tail. The underparts are white except for a brown breast band and neck stripe. The side of the neck is golden.
Young birds have brown upperparts. The underparts are white, with a weak brown breast band.
Measurements (From Rasmussen and Anderton): length 310 mm 390-580 mm (breeding) Wing (with extension of primary) 190-244 mm (adults) 168-228 mm (juveniles) Bill 23-30 mm Tarsus 45-58 mm Tail 194-376 mm (breeding) 110-117 mm (non breeding)
[edit] Breeding
Breeds on floating vegetation during March to July. In southern India it breeds in the monsoon season June-Sept. They are polyandrous and a female may lay up to 10 clutches which take care of incubation. Four black-marked brown eggs are laid in the floating nests.
[edit] Habits
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana's food is insects and other invertebrates picked from the floating vegetation or the water's surface.
Their call is a mewing me-onp and a nasal teeun
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Hydrophasianus chirurgus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Shorebirds by Hayman, Marchant and Prater ISBN 0-395-60237-8
- Rasmussen, P. and J. Anderton (2005) Birds of South Asia - the Ripley guide. Smithsonian and Lynx edicions.
