The Indian Subcontinent provides suitable habitats to various species of birds for residing and nesting. Jacanas are no exception in this regard. Jacanas are a group of tropical waders. Pheasant-Tailed Jacana and Bronze-Winged Jacana have been traced in India. Both these jacanas belong to the kingdom, Animalia; Phylum, Chordata; Class, Aves; Order, Charadriiformes; and Family, Jacanidae. These Jacanas are described below.

Pheasant-Tailed Jacana
Pheasant-Tailed Jacana belongs to the genus called Hydrophasianus and species called H. chirurgus. This jacana breeds in India. During breeding, this bird assumes a different plumage. The breeding adult can be identified as having a white head, fore neck and wings. The rest of the body is mainly black in color. Other features of the bird are golden hind neck and side neck, white eyestripe and grey colored legs and long toes. It has white underparts, which is inclusive of a brown breast band and neck stripe. Young birds have brown upperparts. The underparts are white, with a weak brown breast band. The diet of this bird comprises of insects and other invertebrates picked from floating vegetation or surface water.

Bronze-Winged Jacana
Bronze-Winged Jacana belongs to the genus called Metopidius and species called M. Indicus. This jacana breeds in India. It is described as a black bird with very dark brown inner wings. Its bill is yellow in color and extends up as a red coot-like frontal shield. This bird has white eyestripe and red colored tail. Its long toes are gray in color, along with the legs. Young Jacana has brown upperparts and white underparts with a buff fore neck. Bronze-Winged Jacanas are 29 cm in length, but the females are larger than the males. This jacana consumes insects and other invertebrates picked up from floating vegetation or surface water.

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