Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Description:

The Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is a jacana in the monotypic genus Hydrophasianus. Jacanas are a group of waders in the family Jacanidae that are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, their preferred habitat. The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is capable of swimming, although it usually walks on the vegetation. The females are more colourful than the males and are polyandrous. In zoology, polyandry is a mating system involving a female and two or more males.

Habitat:

Primarily Wetlands and Marshes.

Notes:

Spotted this Bird during the recent Winter Season. It is a new visitor to the outskirts of the city of Guwahati in the State of Assam in North East India.The photograph of the Jacana eggs were taken from quite far using telephoto lens. While conducting surveys, the students are instructed not to disturb the nests of the birds.