[Video] Pheasant-tailed Jacana

In the monotypic genus Hydrophasianus, the pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is a jacana. Like all jacanas, they have elongated toes and nails that allow them to walk in shallow lakes, their favorite habitat, on floating vegetation.

Although foraging predominantly for invertebrate prey, they can sometimes swim or wade in water approaching their body. From Yemen in the west to the Philippines in the east, they are found in tropical Asia and travel seasonally through parts of their distribution. They are the only jacanas with differing non-breeding and breeding plumages that migrate long distances.

By swimming or by walking on marine plants, the pheasant-tailed jacana forages. Females are larger than males and are polyandrous, laying several clutches in their harem that are raised by various males.