Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Scopoli, 1786)

Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus, is a jacana of the Oriental Region, breeding from inland Pakistan to Luzon, Mindanao, Java and Bali, and moving south through western Indonesia outside the breeding season. It is the only jacana known to make long-distance migrations and to show separate breeding and non-breeding plumages. Like other jacanas, it has long toes and claws that let it move across floating plants in shallow lakes, and it can also swim or wade in water up to its body while feeding. Females are larger than males and lay several clutches cared for by different males.

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Jacanidae — Jacanas

Breeding range

Oriental Region: widespread inland Pakistan to Luzon, Mindanao (n, s Philippines), Java and Bali

Nonbreeding range

Oriental Region: s through w Indonesia