Home › Aves › Rallidae › White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
SPECIES PROFILE
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Amaurornis
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
DIET
Omnivorous
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes rice fields
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Gruiformes
FAMILY
Rallidae
GENUS
Amaurornis
📋 Description
SIZE
28-33 cm long 165-300 g
COLORATION
Dark grey with white face and underparts
ADAPTATIONS
Short tail and strong legs for wetland navigation
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes rice fields
DIET
Omnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
REPRODUCTION
Lays 4-8 eggs in ground nests incubated 19-22 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects seeds small fish crustaceans
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Wetland drainage human disturbance
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Vocal Residents: White-breasted Waterhens call loudly with 200-gram bodies foraging 50 grams of insects daily in Bharatpur's marshes. Their Did-you calls are distinctive.
2
Adaptable Foragers: These waterhens thrive in Bhigwan's wetlands covering 5000 sq km. Habitat loss threatens their nesting sites.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan wetlands host white-breasted waterhen sightings
Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary in Maharashtra marshes offer white-breasted waterhen sightings
Chilika Lake in Odisha wetlands have white-breasted waterhen sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March Dry season improves visibility in wetlands for spotting waterhens
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Listen for white-breasted waterhens' loud calls near marshes at dusk
