Comb-crested Jacana vs Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Comb-crested Jacana

Irediparra gallinacea

Medium99 gWetland

This species is unmistakable. It has a black crown and hindneck with a fleshy red wattle covering the forehead and forecrown, contrasting with a white face and throat. The comb is pinker in breeding adults, more orange when not breeding. There is a broad black band on the lower breast with white belly. The underwing and flight feathers, which show most prominently in flight, are black. Back and upperwing mainly grey-brown with black primary coverts, rump and tail. The long legs with extremely long toes trail in flight. The male is slightly smaller than the female and measures 20–22 cm (7.9–8. Voice: This species gives a squeaky, high-pitched chittering, also described as a shrill trill with an explosive soft bugle.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Medium160 gWetland

The pheasant-tailed jacana is conspicuous and unmistakable. It is the longest species in the jacana family when the tail streamers are included. The breeding plumage is marked by the elongated central tail feathers that given the bird its name. The body is chocolate brown, the face is white, and the back of the crown is black with white stripes running down the sides of the neck, separating the white of the front of neck and the silky golden yellow of the nape. The wings are predominantly white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Davidvraju · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Comb-crested Jacana and Pheasant-tailed Jacana.