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Comb-crested jacana

The Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea), also known as the Lotusbird or Lilytrotter. These birds do as their name implies - they live where there is extensive water vegetation and eat insects and seeds found in that environment. They have large splayed feet so they appear to 'walk on water' but are supported by the underlying vegetation. These birds play a role similar to moorhens in North American wetlands. This species is polyandrous, female lay approximately 4 eggs and then the male incubates and cares for the young while she finds another mate.

 

This individual was observed in the Fogg Dam Wetland Reserve east of Darwin, NT, Australia.

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Uploaded on May 4, 2011
Taken on April 14, 2011