Pheasant-tailed Jacanna - Hydrophasianus chirurgus
There are 8 species of Jacanna spread across the globe. Normally brightly coloured these waterbirds are more closely related to gulls than to rails. They possess huge feet that allow them to walk across lilys and other vegetation in search of the snails, insects and small frogs on which the feed. This is a male bird sporting a big streamered tail.
Jacannas practice polyandry which is the rarest mating strategy in birds. The female will set up a large territory within which several males will build her a nest. She will then mate with each in turn who are left to raise the brood of eggs that she lays for each. Of she then goes to enjoy a day wandering around the lillies in search of more potential partners while the males are left to fend for themselves. The males are very gallant and will fight off predators who come to take the chicks with two sharp spurs on their wings.
Wetland on outskirts of Bangalore
25 May 2012
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