Photo: Tunpin.ong / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Masked Finfoot
Heliopais personatus
Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personatus) — Cranes & Rails of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personatus) is a member of the Heliornithidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 510 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Heliornithidae Finfoots
- Genus Heliopais
- Species personatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 510 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Heliornithidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Masked Finfoot hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Masked Finfoot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personatus) belongs to the Heliornithidae family of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR ne India and se Asia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 510 g, with a wing length of about 24 cm and a tail of around 10.8 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 272,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Masked Finfoot?
The Masked Finfoot is a large bird that weighs around 510 g.
Where does the Masked Finfoot live?
The Masked Finfoot is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR ne India and se Asia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Masked Finfoot belong to?
The Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personatus) belongs to the Heliornithidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Masked Finfoot eat?
The Masked Finfoot hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Masked Finfoot migrate?
The Masked Finfoot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Masked Finfoot endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Masked Finfoot make?
1 real field recording of the Masked Finfoot — 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 Masked Finfoot's range?
The Masked Finfoot has a mapped global range of about 272,000 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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