Comb-crested Jacana
Irediparra gallinacea
Odd shorebird that walks around on lily pads with outrageously large feet. Adult has coral-red comb on forehead. Occur in heavily vegetated freshwater wetlands and lakes across northern Australia and down the east coast.
Identification
This species is unmistakable. It has a black crown and hindneck with a fleshy red wattle covering the forehead and forecrown, contrasting with a white face and throat. The comb is pinker in breeding adults, more orange when not breeding. There is a broad black band on the lower breast with white belly. The underwing and flight feathers, which show most prominently in flight, are black. Back and upperwing mainly grey-brown with black primary coverts, rump and tail. The long legs with extremely long toes trail in flight. The male is slightly smaller than the female and measures 20–22 cm (7.9–8.7 in) in length and weighs 68–84 g (2.4–3.0 oz). The female measures 24–27 cm (9.4–10.6 in) in length and weighs 120–150 g (4.2–5.3 oz). The wingspan ranges from 39 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in).
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Irediparra gallinacea
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1828)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Jacanidae
- Genus
- Irediparra
Range and habitat
The bird occurs in south-eastern Borneo, the southern Philippines, Sulawesi, Moluccas, Lesser Sunda Islands, north and south-east New Guinea, New Britain (Lake Lalili), and northern and eastern Australia. Its habitat are large freshwater wetlands, swamps and lakes with abundant floating vegetation, such as water-lilies or water hyacinth, forming a mat on the water surface which it is able to walk on. Although the species is rare and localised it is not globally threatened.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The comb-crested jacana walks slowly and deliberately. It often congregates in flocks. When disturbed, it flies low over water and lands again on open vegetation.<p>The comb-crested jacana is polyandrous. It builds a flimsy nest on floating or emergent vegetation, in which the female lays four lustrous, pale brown eggs covered by black markings. Only males incubate. The young hatch well-developed and soon leave the nest.<p>It eats seeds and aquatic insects gleaned from floating vegetation on the water surface.<p>This species gives a squeaky, high-pitched chittering, also described as a shrill trill with an explosive soft bugle.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Plain-winged Woodcreeper
Dendrocincla turdina
Medium-sized woodcreeper with a short bill. Found in the lower to middle levels of humid forests where it moves restlessly. Rather uniform rufous-brown overall with a brighter tail and a buff throat. Often associated with army-ant swarms and sometimes follows mixed-species flocks, but can also be encountered alone. The northern subspecies lacks the buff throat and has more rufous in the wings and tail.The song is a long (~60 seconds) series of “tchip-tchip-tchip” notes.
Senegal Batis
Batis senegalensis
Typical black, white, and dark-gray batis. Note the chest band, which is black in males and rufous in females. The cap is dark gray, and there is a long eyebrow that is white in males and buff in females. Found in all types of savanna, ranging from moist Guinea savanna to dry thorn savanna. Often in pairs. Male very similar to male Gray-headed and Western Black-headed Batises, but has a broader eyebrow stripe, and is usually associated with the distinctive female. The song is more variable, quieter, and less distinctive than that of most batises; usually includes a combination of buzzing notes and higher whistled “kreit” notes, and sometimes also wing and bill snaps.
Andean Teal
Anas andium
Small duck found in high elevation lakes and wetlands from Venezuela to southern Ecuador. Dark grayish-brown overall with spotted breast and fine vermiculations on head. Dark gray bill. Sexes similar. Usually uncommon; not as numerous as its southern counterpart, Yellow-billed Teal. Typically seen in pairs or small groups.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.