Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Description:

This is the only jacana to have a different breeding plumage. The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is a conspicuous and unmistakable bird. They are around 39–58 cm (15–23 in) in length, about 25 cm (9.8 in) of which is comprised by the pheasant-like tail.[1] Body mass is reportedly 113–135 g (4.0–4.8 oz) in males and 205–260 g (7.2–9.2 oz) the larger females.[2] 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. Breeding 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.

Habitat:

The Pheasant-tailed Jacana's main sources of food are insects and other invertebrates picked from the floating vegetation or the water's surface.

Notes:

Their call is a mewing me-onp and a nasal teeun