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The white-breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) is a waterbird of the rail and crake family, Rallidae, that is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia. They are dark slaty birds with a clean white face, breast and belly. They are somewhat bolder than most other rails and are often seen stepping slowly with their tail cocked upright in open marshes or even drains near busy roads. They are largely crepuscular in activity and during the breeding season, just after the first rains, make loud and repetitive croaking calls
Scientific Name : Amaurornis Phoenicurus
Family : Rallidae
Order : Gruiformes
Class : Aves
Type : Rails, Crakes, Gallinules And Coots
Conservation Status : Least concern (LC)
Size : 28 - 33 cm
Compare Size : House crow -
Wingspan : 49 cm
Weight : 200 - 330 g
Migratory : Resident
Sex Alike : Yes
Nesting Season : June - October
Other Names :
Hindi : डवक, सफ़ेद-छाती जलमुर्गी
Marathi : पांढऱ्या छातीची पाणकोंबडी, पाणकोंबडी, लाजरी पाणकोंबडी, कुवा कोंबडी
Habitat:
Marshes
Breeding:
Eggs 6 -7, Cream Or Pinkish white. Streaked & blotched with reddish brown.
Feeding:
Mainly eat insects, small fish, aquatic invertebrates and grains or seeds
Male & Female | |
---|---|
Upperparts | dark-grey |
Flanks | dark-grey |
Head | mostly white except crown |
Crown | dark-grey |
Neck | dark-grey execpt throat |
Throat | white |
Breast | white |
Belly | upper half white; lower half cinnamon |
Vent | cinnamon |
Legs | yellow |
toes | yellow; long |
Bill | yellow |
Tail | short |
Wing | dark-grey |
Upper mandible | orange-red marking at base |
Note : body is flattened laterally to allow easier passage through the reeds or undergrowth; females slightly smaller than males |
Juvenile | |
---|---|
Note : duller versions of the adults |
Date | Location |
---|---|
16 Dec 2018 | Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
12 Jan 2019 | Bird Watching Area, Bhandup West, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
31 Jan 2019 | Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan |