Animalia Life

Hydrophasianus chirurgus
TAXONOMY
Chirurgus Scopoli, 1786, Luzon, Philippines. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Chinese water pheasant; French: Jacana аlongue queue; German: Wasserfasan; Spanish: Jacana Colilarga.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
11–12.2 in (28–31 cm); 4.8–8 oz (126–231 g). Largest species in the jacana family. Dark plumage with contrasting white wing tips and yellow neckband. Long, dramatic tail feathers in breeding male.
DISTRIBUTION
Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar to southeast China, to southeast Asia, Java, and the Philippines.
HABITAT
Marshes, ponds, and lakes with floating aquatic vegetation. Uses emergent vegetation more in winter.
BEHAVIOR
Uses elongated toes to walk on floating vegetation; only flies short distances. Spends much of its time sunning, preening, and foraging for food when not defending its nest.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Prefers insects and invertebrates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Breeds during rainy season. Females are polyandrous and mate with up to four males and guard their territories. Males incubate eggs and care for chicks. Males build nests of leaves and plants on floating vegetation. Females lay four glossy brown speckled eggs. Incubation is 22–28 days. Breeding success is less than 50%.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Some populations have been threatened in China and Taiwan by
HABITAT
loss due to drained wetlands and high-speed rail projects.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

Other popular Animals