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Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea)

The Comb-crested Jacana is a medium-sized freshwater waterbird that walks across floating vegetation using exceptionally long toes. In Australia it occurs mainly in northern and eastern freshwater wetlands, where clearing, drainage, grazing and altered water flows can remove feeding and breeding habitat on development sites.

Conservation status

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Breeding season

Timing varies with wetland condition. In NSW, breeding and clutches are recorded mainly from September to April, while dispersal can occur when wetlands dry or conditions become unsuitable.

The supplied sources do not provide a more precise monthly peak for breeding, hatching or dispersal.

  • Breeding: Breeding is mainly recorded in spring and summer in NSW, with clutches recorded from September to April.
  • Breeding: Clutches have been recorded through January to April, extending the documented breeding period into autumn.
  • Young: Dependent young may be present after laying and hatching during the September to April breeding period. Young hide in vegetation and can dive when threatened.
  • Movement and dispersal: The species is dispersive and moves in response to wetland condition. Birds can occur well beyond their normal range when conditions change.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing and disturbance are most likely to harm the species during the documented September to April breeding period, when nests, eggs and dependent young may be present in floating vegetation.

Identification

The Comb-crested Jacana is readily recognised on suitable wetlands by its long legs, very long toes and habit of walking across floating plants. It is usually seen singly, in pairs, groups or flocks.

Adults are mainly olive-brown above and white below. They have a black cap and upper neck, a white face with a golden tinge, a broad dark band across the breast, a large red forehead comb and a red bill.

The legs and feet are grey to olive-green, and the eyes are orange. In flight, the long legs and feet extend noticeably beyond the tail.

Body length: 20 to 27 cm.

Weight: Not stated in the supplied sources.

  • Look for a bird walking with a characteristic bob and flick across lily pads or other floating vegetation.
  • The exceptionally long toes spread the bird's weight across floating plants and can make it appear to walk on water.

Identification: Calls and behaviour

Calls are described as strident piping and twittering. Adults and young may dive for safety, and young birds can remain submerged with only their nostrils exposed.

  • Check dense floating vegetation and the edges of open water when a piping or twittering call is heard.
  • Do not assume a wetland is unoccupied because no birds are visible. Adults and young can hide in aquatic vegetation or submerge.

Identification: Breeding signs

The male builds a platform or shallow cup from plant material. Eggs may also be laid directly on a large leaf without a constructed nest.

The male incubates the eggs and broods the young. If threatened, he can carry one or two young under each wing and place them in separate locations.

  • Inspect floating vegetation for low platforms, shallow cups, eggs on large leaves and recently used nest sites.
  • Treat dense floating plant mats as potential breeding habitat even when a nest is not found.

Distribution: Australian range

The Comb-crested Jacana occurs across northern and eastern Australia, mainly in coastal and subcoastal areas. It is associated with freshwater wetlands and can disperse beyond its usual range when wetland conditions change.

The documented Australian range extends from the north-eastern Kimberley Division of Western Australia to Cape York Peninsula, then south along the east coast to the Hunter region of New South Wales. Stragglers have been recorded in south-eastern New South Wales, possibly after unfavourable conditions further north.

The NSW profile also records known or predicted occurrences in parts of South Australia, Queensland and NSW. The supplied documents do not provide a confirmed national population estimate.

  • Western Australia: north-eastern Kimberley Division.
  • Queensland: Cape York Peninsula, coastal and subcoastal areas, South Eastern Queensland and the listed Queensland subregions.
  • New South Wales: the north coast, Hunter region, Sydney Basin, Nandewar, New England Tablelands and South East Corner, with occasional records farther south.
  • South Australia: listed as an occurrence area in the NSW indicative distribution table.

Distribution: Recorded bioregions and strongholds

The NSW profile identifies known or predicted records in the Peel subregion of Nandewar, Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts and Nightcap in the New England Tablelands, and multiple NSW North Coast subregions.

Known records are also listed for the Manning Shelf and Tweed-Moreton marine bioregion areas, South East Coastal Ranges, several South Eastern Queensland subregions, and Sydney Basin subregions. The Gwydir Wetlands are a documented inland NSW wetland site where the species has been recorded.

NSW conservation status: Vulnerable.

Commonwealth status: Not listed.

Population size: Not stated in the supplied sources.

Population trend: Wetland loss has led to declines in NSW and elsewhere, according to the NSW profile.

  • Known NSW subregions include Peel, Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts, Nightcap, Coffs Coast and Escarpment, Karuah Manning, Macleay Hastings, Upper Hunter, Yuraygir, South East Coastal Ranges, Cumberland, Hunter, Illawarra, Wyong and Yengo.
  • The Gwydir Wetlands provide a documented inland occurrence in NSW and support extensive freshwater wetland habitat.

Habitat: Wetland types

Permanent freshwater wetlands are the main habitat for the Comb-crested Jacana. Sites may be still or slow flowing, but need substantial floating, fringing or aquatic vegetation.

Suitable habitat includes freshwater marshes, ponds, lakes, slow-flowing wetland channels and flooded areas with floating vegetation. The species may also use suitable artificial wetlands with aquatic vegetation.

The species is generally associated with lowland wetlands and is rarely recorded in forested areas at the family level.

  • Retain permanent or seasonally persistent freshwater wetland areas and their connections to surrounding aquatic vegetation.
  • Check still and slow-flowing waterbodies, including artificial wetlands, flooded pastures and wet grassy areas where floating plants are present.

Habitat: Vegetation structure

Water-lilies and other floating plants are key structural features. Fringing and emergent aquatic vegetation also provides cover, nesting material and access between feeding areas.

The birds favour wetlands with a good surface cover of floating vegetation, including areas where the vegetation is partly submerged.

Recommended wetland buffer: At least 200 metres around the wetland perimeter.

Elevation or climate limit: No species-specific elevation limit is stated in the supplied sources.

  • Map floating plant mats, lily beds, emergent vegetation and vegetated wetland margins before clearing or access works.
  • Include a vegetated buffer of at least 200 metres around the perimeter of known or potential wetlands where the NSW profile's management guidance applies.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Comb-crested Jacanas forage on floating vegetation and across wetland margins. Their long toes allow them to move over plant mats that would not support most waterbirds.

The diet consists primarily of insects and other invertebrates, with some seeds and other vegetation. General jacana information describes insects, aquatic moth larvae, organisms among water-lily roots and seeds from aquatic and marsh plants as typical food resources.

Main food: Insects and other invertebrates.

Additional food: Seeds and other vegetation.

  • Inspect floating leaves, plant stems, root mats and shallow wetland margins for foraging birds.
  • Retain insect-rich aquatic vegetation and wetland plant mats during works.

Foraging habitat: Foraging behaviour

Birds walk across floating vegetation with a characteristic bob and flick while searching for food. General jacana observations describe turning or probing floating leaves and plant roots to obtain insects and seeds.

The supplied documents do not give a species-specific foraging range or territory size for the Comb-crested Jacana.

Foraging range: Not stated for the Comb-crested Jacana in the supplied sources.

  • Search the full wetland edge and floating plant mat rather than only open water.
  • Avoid disturbing or removing floating vegetation during active works where birds are present.

Breeding habitat: Breeding requirements

Breeding requires floating or emergent vegetation that can support a nest and provide cover for eggs and young. Breeding in NSW is concentrated in spring and summer, but clutches have been recorded from September to April.

The male builds a nest platform or shallow cup from vegetable material on floating vegetation. In some cases, eggs are laid directly on a large leaf without a constructed nest.

The male incubates the eggs and broods the young. Young are precocial, but remain dependent on adults for protection and guidance after hatching.

Breeding season in NSW: Mainly spring and summer, with clutches recorded from September to April.

Clutch size: Not stated for the Comb-crested Jacana in the supplied NSW species profile. General jacana information describes four eggs.

Incubation: Not stated specifically for the Comb-crested Jacana. General jacana information gives 22 to 28 days for several jacana species.

Age at maturity: Not stated in the supplied sources.

Lifespan: Not stated in the supplied sources.

  • Protect floating vegetation, emergent cover and quiet wetland margins from clearing, access tracks, machinery movement and sudden water-level changes during the breeding period.
  • Use careful inspections by an appropriately qualified fauna spotter catcher where works are proposed near floating vegetation.

Breeding habitat: Young and parental care

The male can carry one or two young under each wing when threatened. Young birds may dive and remain submerged with only their nostrils exposed, and adults may also dive for safety.

  • Treat apparently vacant floating plant beds as potential young-bird refuge during and after the breeding season.
  • Pause work and reassess if an adult repeatedly calls, displays distress or moves between floating vegetation and concealed young.

Sheltering habitat: Cover and escape habitat

Shelter is provided mainly by floating and emergent aquatic vegetation. The species does not use dens, hollows or burrows, and the supplied sources do not describe a separate roost structure.

Adults and young hide in aquatic vegetation and can dive when threatened. Young birds can remain submerged with only their nostrils exposed.

Dense floating plant mats therefore provide both concealment and escape cover, as well as nesting and feeding habitat.

Refuge type: Floating and emergent aquatic vegetation, with diving as an additional escape response.

Roost, hollow, den or burrow size: Not applicable or not stated in the supplied sources.

  • Retain continuous floating and fringing vegetation around work areas and access points.
  • Inspect beneath and within floating plant mats before vegetation removal or machinery entry.
  • Avoid rapid disturbance of wetland margins that could force adults or young into open water.

Sheltering habitat: Nest shelter

Breeding cover consists of a platform or shallow cup of plant material on floating vegetation, although eggs may be placed directly on a large leaf. The nest can be low and difficult to see from the wetland edge.

  • Search floating leaves and low plant platforms as well as conventional cup nests.
  • Do not rely on nest absence as evidence that a floating vegetation bed is unused.

Threats: Clearing, drainage and hydrology

The main risks are the loss and degradation of freshwater wetland habitat, including removal of floating vegetation and changes to water flows. Breeding birds, eggs and young are particularly exposed to disturbance and introduced predators.

Clearing, draining and development for flood mitigation, agriculture and urban areas reduce wetland habitat. Altered water flows can remove or reduce the floating and aquatic vegetation needed for feeding and breeding.

Water infrastructure and construction near wetlands can also reduce the quality of surrounding vegetated margins.

Recommended buffer in the NSW recovery guidance: At least 200 metres around the perimeter of the wetland.

  • Retain known and potential wetlands, floating vegetation and vegetated margins.
  • Maintain or restore ecologically sustainable water flows.
  • Avoid flood mitigation works, drainage and development close to wetlands.

Threats: Grazing and vegetation removal

Livestock grazing can remove floating aquatic vegetation and degrade fringing wetland plants. This reduces feeding cover, nesting material and shelter for young.

  • Exclude grazing from known or potential wetlands where practicable.
  • Prevent stock access to floating plant beds and vegetated wetland margins during construction and rehabilitation.

Threats: Predators and project disturbance

European Red Foxes and other introduced predators can prey on breeding birds, eggs and young. Clearing and construction during the breeding period can destroy low nests or separate young from adults.

The supplied sources do not identify a species-specific disease threat or quantify road mortality. Roads and access tracks can nevertheless increase disturbance and predator access where they cut through wetland margins.

  • Control Red Foxes and other introduced predators around known breeding wetlands.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher to inspect floating vegetation and wetland margins before clearing.
  • Keep plant, vehicle and pedestrian access away from wetland edges wherever practicable.

Threats: Fragmentation and fire

Fragmenting wetlands or removing links between wetland cells can reduce access to suitable habitat when water conditions change. The supplied species sources do not describe a specific fire regime or direct fire response for the Comb-crested Jacana.

  • Maintain wetland connections and vegetated buffers between wetland areas.
  • Assess proposed burning, firebreaks and vegetation removal for effects on floating and fringing aquatic vegetation.

Survey methodology: 1. Daytime wetland searches

Comb-crested Jacanas are wetland birds that use permanent or slow-flowing freshwater with floating vegetation, especially water-lilies. Surveys should focus on direct observation of birds, nests and breeding habitat during daylight, when the species is most readily detected.

Search all permanent and slow-flowing freshwater wetlands, including farm dams, irrigation areas, flooded pasture, channels and artificial wetlands with floating or fringing vegetation.

Walk the wetland margin and inspect floating vegetation from several viewpoints without entering dense aquatic vegetation unnecessarily.

Record all birds seen, heard or flushed, including the number of adults, juveniles and birds carrying nesting material.

The species is 20 to 27 centimetres long and has very long toes, a red bill and a red frontal comb, which assist identification at close range.

Record the wetland boundary, water depth where practicable, floating vegetation cover, nearby grazing, access tracks and any disturbance.

Undertake searches during suitable daylight conditions with low wind, good visibility and no heavy rain, because wind and rain reduce the chance of seeing or hearing birds.

Primary habitat: Permanent freshwater wetlands, still or slow-flowing, with floating vegetation or fringing aquatic vegetation.

Breeding period in NSW: Mainly spring and summer, with clutches recorded from September to April.

Survey methodology: 2. Searches for nests, chicks and breeding behaviour

During September to April, inspect suitable floating vegetation for shallow platform nests, cup-shaped nests and eggs laid directly on large leaves.

Search slowly around the wetland edge and from stable vantage points, because the male builds the nest, incubates the eggs and broods the young.

Look for adults walking on lily pads, carrying or sheltering chicks under the wings, giving alarm calls, or repeatedly returning to one part of the wetland.

Treat young birds diving with only their nostrils exposed as a likely indication of nearby adults and active breeding.

Maintain enough distance to avoid flushing adults from nests or separating young from the attending male.

Survey methodology: 3. Targeted habitat and connectivity assessment

Map all areas of open water, floating vegetation, emergent vegetation and vegetated wetland margins that could be used for foraging, nesting or shelter.

Inspect connected wetlands, drainage lines and nearby artificial wetlands, because Comb-crested Jacanas move in response to wetland condition and may occur beyond their usual range.

Record barriers or activities that could remove floating vegetation, alter water flows, drain the wetland or allow livestock to enter the wetland.

Where the project footprint includes a wetland, survey the full area proposed for disturbance and the surrounding 200 metre vegetated buffer recommended in the NSW profile.

Recommended wetland buffer for protection planning: At least 200 metres around the perimeter of the wetland.

Survey methodology: 4. Minimum effort and reporting

  • Set the number of survey visits, observer hours, transect lengths and observation points according to the size and complexity of the wetland, the proposed disturbance and the likelihood of breeding activity, because the supplied documents do not prescribe a species-specific survey effort.
  • Include at least one targeted daylight assessment in suitable wetland conditions and repeat the assessment during September to April where breeding habitat could be disturbed.
  • Record survey dates, start and finish times, weather, observers, access limitations, wetland condition, survey area, detection method, locations and photographs.
  • Report negative results as well as detections, including the areas searched and the wetland features present.
  • Submit confirmed records and suitable photographs to the relevant state wildlife database, and follow the database requirements for location accuracy and sensitive breeding records.
  • Check the current conservation listing and survey requirements for the state or territory where the project is located before fieldwork begins.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Avoid wetland disturbance wherever practicable. Retain the water, floating vegetation and vegetated margins that provide feeding, nesting and shelter habitat.

  • Redesign the footprint to retain permanent or slow-flowing freshwater, floating vegetation, water-lily beds and fringing aquatic vegetation.
  • Protect the wetland and plan around the recommended vegetated buffer of at least 200 metres around its perimeter.
  • Maintain links between wetlands and nearby drainage lines or artificial wetlands that may be used when local conditions change.
  • Prevent livestock access to retained wetland habitat where grazing could remove floating aquatic vegetation or damage the wetland margin.
  • Avoid draining, filling, diverting or substantially changing water flows to known or potential habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

  • Confirm the current state or territory listing before works, noting that the species is listed as Vulnerable in New South Wales and is not listed under the EPBC Act in the supplied profile.
  • Obtain any required state or territory threatened species, wildlife handling, clearing, wetland or animal welfare approvals before disturbance.
  • A species-specific EPBC referral is not indicated by the supplied Commonwealth listing, but check whether the project could affect another matter protected under the EPBC Act.
  • Schedule wetland disturbance outside the main NSW breeding period of September to April where practicable.
  • Stage works so that retained wetland habitat remains available throughout construction and provide a fauna management plan covering surveys, exclusion areas, fauna handling, stop-work triggers and reporting.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

  • Complete a pre-clearance inspection of every wetland, waterbody, drainage line and vegetated margin within or near the work area.
  • Mark the wetland boundary, the retained floating and fringing vegetation, the 200 metre buffer and all no-go areas before machinery arrives.
  • Use exclusion fencing where it can prevent machinery, vehicles, stock and people from entering retained wetland habitat without blocking necessary fauna movement.
  • Brief machinery operators and the fauna spotter catcher on the species' appearance, wetland habitat, breeding period and stop-work procedures.
  • Remove or control attractants and access routes that could allow red foxes or other introduced predators to enter retained breeding habitat.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and spotter catcher duties

Keep machinery away from retained wetland habitat and use the fauna spotter catcher to manage each work front. Stop when works could injure a bird, nest, chick or active breeding site.

  • Inspect exclusion fencing, wetland boundaries, buffers and access controls at the start of each workday and after heavy rain or site changes.
  • The fauna spotter catcher should inspect the active work area and any area to be entered by machinery before work starts and whenever the work front moves.
  • Use a spotter position that provides a clear view of floating vegetation, wetland margins and the machinery exclusion zone.
  • Keep machinery, vehicles, pumps, spoil, fuels and sediment controls out of retained wetland habitat unless the approved method specifically allows entry.
  • Use slow, staged clearing near wetland margins and stop machinery immediately when the spotter catcher signals a fauna risk.

During habitat disturbance: Wetland and habitat feature handling

  • Do not remove floating aquatic vegetation, water-lilies or fringing vegetation from retained habitat unless removal is authorised and unavoidable.
  • Do not drain, fill, isolate or divert a wetland without confirming the approved method and completing a fauna risk assessment.
  • Inspect vegetation, debris and shallow wetland edges for nests, eggs and chicks before disturbance.
  • If a nest, egg, chick or attending adult is found, establish a no-go area and obtain advice from the project ecologist before proceeding.
  • Do not move a nest, eggs or chicks unless the person is authorised, the action is permitted and the project ecologist has confirmed that movement is necessary.

During habitat disturbance: Fauna encounters and stop-work triggers

  • Stop work if a Comb-crested Jacana, nest, egg or chick is within the machinery work zone or could be affected by vibration, vehicle movement, vegetation removal, pumping or changes to water levels.
  • Allow the bird to leave without chasing, cornering or repeatedly flushing it.
  • The fauna spotter catcher may capture or handle the bird only if authorised under the project approval and relevant wildlife requirements, and only when this is necessary to prevent injury or for approved relocation.
  • Relocate a healthy bird only to nearby retained suitable freshwater wetland habitat selected by the ecologist, and record the release location and condition.
  • Take an injured bird to an authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian through the project fauna procedure, and do not provide food or water unless directed by a qualified carer or veterinarian.
  • Escalate any injured bird, active nest, dead bird, unauthorised habitat damage or change to wetland water flows to the site supervisor and project ecologist before work resumes.

During habitat disturbance: Records and incident reporting

  • Record every sighting, handling event, nest, chick, injury, mortality, relocation, stop-work event and restart approval.
  • For each record, include date, time, coordinates, habitat condition, activity underway, weather, bird age or life stage, action taken and photographs where suitable.
  • Report any breach of the approved buffer, exclusion zone or fauna procedure to the environmental representative and relevant regulator where required.
  • Update the relevant state wildlife database with confirmed records after sensitive breeding information has been managed in accordance with database requirements.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Confirm that retained wetlands and their vegetation remain functional after clearing or construction. Continue checking for birds, breeding activity, injuries and indirect impacts from changed water conditions.

  • Inspect the work area and retained wetland margins after clearing to confirm that no birds, nests, eggs or chicks remain at risk.
  • Check that floating vegetation, water-lily beds, fringing vegetation and wetland water levels have not been damaged or altered outside the approved footprint.
  • Remove unused materials, spoil, fencing hazards and access tracks that could obstruct fauna movement or degrade the wetland.
  • Repair damaged exclusion fencing and retain wetland protection controls until the site is stable and the environmental representative approves their removal.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

  • Repeat daylight wetland searches during the next suitable survey period, with particular attention to September to April if breeding habitat was disturbed.
  • Monitor bird presence, use of floating vegetation, nesting activity, water condition, grazing pressure, weed cover and evidence of red foxes or other predators.
  • Compare monitoring results with the pre-disturbance baseline and investigate any decline in use, loss of vegetation or reduced water availability.
  • Report monitoring results, incidents, corrective actions and any required offsets or rehabilitation commitments to the approval holder and relevant regulator.

After habitat disturbance: Maintaining controls

  • Keep sediment, erosion, water extraction and access controls in place while construction continues to affect the wetland catchment.
  • Prevent grazing within retained or restored wetland habitat where it could remove floating aquatic vegetation.
  • Continue predator control where approved and where monitoring identifies red foxes or other introduced predators near breeding habitat.
  • Apply any required offset or conservation measure if authorised impacts cannot be avoided or minimised.

Rehabilitation actions: Wetland and vegetation restoration

Rehabilitation should recreate freshwater wetland conditions with floating and fringing vegetation. The objective is to provide feeding, nesting and shelter habitat that remains connected to other suitable wetlands.

  • Reinstate permanent or slow-flowing freshwater conditions where the approved design allows, without creating unstable or polluted waterbodies.
  • Plant or encourage locally appropriate native floating, aquatic and fringing wetland vegetation, with emphasis on species that form stable floating cover and provide nesting material.
  • Retain natural wetland edges and avoid steep, unvegetated banks that reduce shelter and access to floating vegetation.
  • Do not rely on introduced aquatic plants as the rehabilitation target, even though the species can use suitable artificial wetlands containing introduced vegetation.

Rehabilitation actions: Threat and access management

  • Exclude livestock from restored wetland areas until vegetation is established and continue exclusion where grazing damages floating or fringing vegetation.
  • Control weeds using methods that do not contaminate the water or remove the floating cover required by the species.
  • Control red foxes and other introduced predators in accordance with approved animal welfare and pest management procedures.
  • Manage fire so that wetland margins and fringing vegetation are not removed during the breeding period or when birds and chicks are present.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

  • Inspect restored wetlands during daylight and record Comb-crested Jacana presence, calls, feeding, nesting, chicks and use of floating vegetation.
  • Measure the extent and persistence of open water, floating vegetation and fringing vegetation, and record water availability through wet and dry periods.
  • Treat repeated use by the species, safe nesting or chick-rearing, stable aquatic vegetation and no evidence of livestock or predator-driven damage as practical indicators of rehabilitation progress.
  • Continue monitoring through at least one September to April breeding period where works affected potential breeding habitat.
  • Submit confirmed records and rehabilitation outcomes to the relevant state wildlife database and retain project records for approval reporting.

Sources