Irediparra gallinacea
The Comb-crested Jacana, Irediparra gallinacea, is a striking wetland bird renowned for its extraordinary adaptations to its aquatic environment. Measuring approximately 20-27 cm in length and weighing between 68-85g, it is easily identified by its distinctive bright red, fleshy comb atop its forehead, which can vary in size. Adults exhibit a black crown, nape, and eye-stripe, contrasting sharply with a white face, throat, and underparts. The mantle, back, and wings are a rich golden-brown, w...
Primarily inhabits freshwater wetlands, swamps, lagoons, and slow-moving rivers with abundant floating vegetation like water lilies and hydrilla, typically found at low elevations.
Primarily feeds on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects, small invertebrates, and the seeds of aquatic plants, foraging directly from the surface of floating vegetation.
Comb-crested Jacanas are largely diurnal, spending their days foraging and defending territories, often roosting communally or individually within dense vegetation at night. Their most iconic behavior is their foraging strategy: they delicately walk across floating aquatic plants, using their exp...
The Comb-crested Jacana has a widespread resident distribution across tropical northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and extends northwest into parts of Southeast Asia including Sulawesi, Borneo, and the Philippines. In Australia, it is found throughout the northern coastal regions from Wes...
Least Concern
- Comb-crested Jacanas are famous for their 'Jesus bird' moniker, as their long toes allow them to walk across floating vegetation as if on water. - This species exhibits polyandry, where one female mates with multiple males, and the males do all the incubating and chick-rearing. - The male jacan...