Bird

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Also known as Water Pheasant, Lily-trotter

Pheasant-tailed jacanas are striking wetland birds celebrated for their impossibly long toes that allow them to walk effortlessly across lily pads and floating mats of vegetation. During the summer breeding season, adults undergo a dramatic transformation, growing a sweeping, dark tail that can measure nearly thirty centimeters alongside a brilliant white-and-yellow head. Females territory-hold and mate with multiple males, leaving each mate with a nest constructed on floating weeds to incubate and raise the precocial chicks alone.

WetlandMigratoryPolyandrous

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Least ConcernConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyAquatic insects, Mollusks, Water lily seeds

Predators

Harriers
Snakes
Large predatory fish

ThreatsWetland loss, agricultural pollution, human disturbance

HabitatsFreshwater marshes, shallow lakes, lotus ponds, flooded fields

Life span7–10 years

Classification

FamilyJacanidae
SpeciesHydrophasianus chirurgus

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice: Look for white-and-chocolate birds with exceptionally long, dark tail streamers foraging on floating foliage.
Support conservation: Observe from shorelines or boardwalks with a spotting scope, avoiding boat travel through shallow lily beds during breeding months.

Responsible observation

Spotting floating nests: Scan shallow lotus ponds for delicate platforms woven from aquatic weeds.
Seasonal timing: Look for their sweeping tail plumes during the summer breeding months.
Respectful distance: Use binoculars from the shoreline to prevent disturbing brooding males.

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