Scientific Name: Hydrophasianus chirurgus
IUCN: Least Concern
Description: The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is the only jacana to have a separate breeding plumage, when it is a conspicuous and unmistakable bird. It is the longest species in the jacana family when the tail streamers are included.
Breeding adults are chocolate-brown upperparts contrasting with white wings panel, upper-wing is white and black tip. White head, chin, throat and lower neck. Black patch on the nape, extending down to the neck sides which are golden-yellow. The hind neck is golden. There is a striking white eye-stripe. The legs and very long toes are grey.
Non-breeding adults tail is much shorter. The upperparts are paler, greenish-brown. Crown and hindneck are blackish. The underparts are white except for a brown breast band and neck stripe. The side of the neck is golden.
Food: Insects and other invertebrates, picked from the floating vegetation or the water's surface. They also take frogs and fish.
Habitat: It is found on small to large lakes having sufficient floating vegetation on them.
Distribution: Resident breeder in tropical India, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia.
