Pheasant-tailed jacana

Appearance

This is the only jacana to have a different breeding plumage. The pheasant-tailed jacana is conspicuous and unmistakable. It is around 39–58 cm in length, about 25 cm of which is comprised by the pheasant-like tail. Body mass is reportedly 113–135 g in males and 205–260 g the larger females. 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 :
length 310 mm 390–580 mm
Wing 190–244 mm 168–228 mm
Bill 23–30 mm
Tarsus 45–58 mm
Tail 194–376 mm 110–117 mm

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 Himalayas migrate into peninsular India and southeast Asia. It is also resident in Taiwan, where it is considered endangered. It has been recorded as a vagrant in Australia.

Reproduction

These jacanas breed on floating vegetation from March to July. In southern India, it breeds in the monsoon season, June–September. They are polyandrous and a female may lay up to 10 clutches. Four black-marked brown eggs are laid in the floating nests.