Jacana in Jiangxi

Photo: Panda Eye / Alamy

A Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is seen on the surface of a lake in Poyyang County, Jiangxi Province, in southeast China.   LIke all other Jacanas, these Jacanas have very large feet and claws that enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes.   They can swim but prefer to walk on the vegetation on top of the water, looking for food.   They are found mainly in India, Indonesia and southeast Asia.   Other Jacanas are found worldwide, but the Pheasant-tailed species is the only one to have a separate breeding plumage, which is conspicuous and striking, as seen above.   They are also known casually, as 'lily trotters'.
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