Record 177: Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Historical record: This record was not submitted by observers. It was compiled and made available here as part of the Bird Society of Singapore's effort to make historical records more easily accessible. Click here to read more about this initiative.

General details

Species	Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Record ID	177
Date	07 May 2020
Location	MacRitchie Reservoir
Count	17 individuals
Date added	25 Oct 2021

This is one of 37 accepted records of Pheasant-tailed Jacana in our database.

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Record accepted.

Committee's view

Background
From the eBird checklist: "seen at 18.30 - saw a few white birds flying over the water at a distance. I had seen an unusual flock of 20 or so little egrets here a couple of months ago so thought it might be those, then saw a few flying back towards me with dark body mostly white wings, thought maybe pond herons, then they got closer saw pointed wings and black bodies thought maybe terns then they landed on a rope between buoys along with others and realised they were Jacana. Approx half of them in breeding plumage - side-on black with teardrop shaped white wing patch and very long arched black tail, mostly white head (at that distance). Non-breeding were brown and white. Counted them three times all resting and all flying so should be accurate. Watched about 5 minutes then had to move on so as not be arrested for non-essential activities (no camera with me for same reason but had my binoculars) Came back around at 19.00 but no further sign of them. Avifauna of Singapore lists a single at Macritchie on 9th May 1992 so date is about right."

Background

From the eBird checklist: "seen at 18.30 - saw a few white birds flying over the water at a distance. I had seen an unusual flock of 20 or so little egrets here a couple of months ago so thought it might be those, then saw a few flying back towards me with dark body mostly white wings, thought maybe pond herons, then they got closer saw pointed wings and black bodies thought maybe terns then they landed on a rope between buoys along with others and realised they were Jacana. Approx half of them in breeding plumage - side-on black with teardrop shaped white wing patch and very long arched black tail, mostly white head (at that distance). Non-breeding were brown and white. Counted them three times all resting and all flying so should be accurate. Watched about 5 minutes then had to move on so as not be arrested for non-essential activities (no camera with me for same reason but had my binoculars) Came back around at 19.00 but no further sign of them. Avifauna of Singapore lists a single at Macritchie on 9th May 1992 so date is about right."

Verdict	Accepted / Wild (Verifiable)

References (see all)

References	eBird

Revisions to this record

Date revised	Changes made
25 Jan 2022	The eBird checklist URL was updated.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (2021). Record 177: Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://records.singaporebirds.com/record/177/.