Comb-crested Jacana

<em>Irediparra gallinacea</em>, the comb-crested jacana, is a distinctive wading bird in the family Jacanidae, assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is characterized by a conspicuous fleshy red comb on its forehead and extraordinarily long toes and claws that enable it to walk across floating vegetation in shallow freshwater habitats. The species is native to Australia, New Guinea, Borneo, and the Philippine islands, where it inhabits lakes, swamps, rivers, and ponds with abundant aquatic vegetation. Comb-crested jacanas are territorial and polyandrous, with females defending large territories within which multiple males incubate eggs and care for chicks. The male performs the primary role in incubation and chick-rearing, a reversal of the typical avian pattern. The species feeds on aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and small organisms gleaned from water surfaces and vegetation.