Comb-crested Jacana
The Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea), also known as the Lotus Bird or Lilytrotter, is the only species of Jacana in the genus Irediparra. It occurs in southeastern Borneo, the southern Philippines, Sulawesi, Moluccas, Lesser Sunda Islands, New Guinea, New Britain, and northern and eastern Australia. Its habitat is freshwater wetlands with abundant floating vegetation, such as water-lilies or water hyacinth, forming a mat on the water surface.
This species is unmistakable. It has a black crown and hind neck with a fleshy red wattle covering the forehead and fore crown, contrasting with a white face and throat. There is a broad black band on the lower breast with white belly. The Underwing is black. The back and upperwing are mainly gray-brown with black primary coverts, rump and tail. The bird has long legs with extremely long toes. Adults are 8 to 10.5 inches long and weigh 3 to 5 ounces. Females are larger than the male.
The Comb-crested Jacana eats seeds and aquatic insects gleaned from floating vegetation or the water surface. It builds a flimsy nest on floating or emergent vegetation, in which the female lays four lustrous, pale brown eggs covered by black markings. Only males incubate. The young hatch well-developed and soon leave the nest.