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9

Comb-crested Jacana

(Metopidius [Irediparra] gallinacea)
Alternate name(s): "Jesusbird", "Christbird", "Lotusbird", "Comb-crested Parra", "Lily-trotter"
Size: 20-22 cm (male), 24-27 cm (female); wingspan 39-46 cm (both sexes)
Weight: 68-84 g (male), 120-150 g (female)
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Comb-crested Jacana at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "novaehollandiae"

ADULT

PAIR

Lateral view of a pair of Comb-crested Jacanas; the bird in front is the female because bigger than the male behind
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, December 2019]

Pair of Comb-crested Jacanas (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2017]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, August 2013]

Near-frontal view of a Comb-crested Jacana
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, August 2014]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, November 2020]

Lateral view of a Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, July 2013]

Lateral view of a Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Lateral view of a resting Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, July 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Comb-crested Jacana on its lily pad (click on photo to see the entire pad)
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, August 2014]

Dorsal view of a Comb-crested Jacana
[Wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, July 2009; see credits page for details]

Lateral view of a Comb-crested Jacana in flight (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Dorsal view of a Comb-crested Jacana just after take-off (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, September 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up frontal view of a juvenile Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, July 2013]

Comb-crested Jacana, with a juvenile, left (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, July 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Comb-crested Jacana (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, December 2019]

Frontal view of a Comb-crested Jacana chick (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Comb-crested Jacana with a chick (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of 4 Comb-crested Jacana chicks (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, April 2020]

Comb-crested Jacana with two young chicks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Comb-crested Jacana with a young chick (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Comb-crested Jacana chick walking on lily pads (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Close-up view of a Comb-crested Jacana chick going after a fly (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Behaviour

Comb-crested Jacana with two young chicks; note that the colour pigment of the bird's fleshy comb is orange-yellow; the usual pinkish-red comes from circulating blood - when a Comb-crested Jacana becomes excited, blood flow to the crest is restricted and its colour consequently changes from pinkish-red to orange-yellow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Q: How does a Comb-crested Jacana keep itself in balance with the feet clearly behind its body? (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

A: With such enormous feet! (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Food, Diet

Near-frontal view of a Comb-crested Jacana picking up part of an aquatic plant (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, April 2020]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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