Photo: peterichman / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Comb-crested Jacana
Irediparra gallinacea
Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) is a member of the Jacanidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 98.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Jacanidae Jacanas
- Genus Irediparra
- Species gallinacea
Where it lives
Inland southeastern Borneo, Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas and Mindanao (southern Philippines) to New Guinea and some satellites, and northeastern WA to south-central NSW (northern, eastern Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 98.8 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Jacanidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Comb-crested Jacana hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Comb-crested Jacana is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) is a member of the Jacanidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU inland se Borneo, Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas and Mindanao (s Philippines) to New Guinea and some satellites, and ne WA to sc NSW (n, e Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 98.8 g, with a wing length of about 13.5 cm and a tail of around 4.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Comb-crested Jacana?
The Comb-crested Jacana is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 98.8 g.
Where does the Comb-crested Jacana live?
The Comb-crested Jacana is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU inland se Borneo, Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas and Mindanao (s Philippines) to New Guinea and some satellites, and ne WA to sc NSW (n, e Australia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Comb-crested Jacana belong to?
The Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) belongs to the Jacanidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Comb-crested Jacana eat?
The Comb-crested Jacana hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Comb-crested Jacana migrate?
The Comb-crested Jacana is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Comb-crested Jacana endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Comb-crested Jacana make?
1 real field recording of the Comb-crested Jacana — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Comb-crested Jacana's range?
The Comb-crested Jacana has a mapped global range of about 2.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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