Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is a member of the Jacanidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 160 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 Hydrophasianus
- Species chirurgus
Where it lives
Widespread inland Pakistan to Luzon, Mindanao (northern, southern Philippines), Java and Bali
Quick facts
- Weight
- 160 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Jacanidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is a species of bird in the Jacanidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR widespread inland Pakistan to Luzon, Mindanao (n, s Philippines), Java and Bali.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 160 g, with a wing length of about 19.4 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pheasant-tailed Jacana?
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 160 g.
Where does the Pheasant-tailed Jacana live?
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR widespread inland Pakistan to Luzon, Mindanao (n, s Philippines), Java and Bali, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Pheasant-tailed Jacana belong to?
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) belongs to the Jacanidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Pheasant-tailed Jacana eat?
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Pheasant-tailed Jacana migrate?
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Pheasant-tailed 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 Pheasant-tailed Jacana make?
1 real field recording of the Pheasant-tailed Jacana — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pheasant-tailed Jacana's range?
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana has a mapped global range of about 6.4 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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