Pheasant-tailed Jacana is about 52 cm long and has very long toes and claws. The bird's summer plumage consists of a coffee-brown body, white head, neck, and wings. Its belly and the front portion of necks remain white.
The bird feeds on aquatic insects and the plankton from water chestnut fields. It is a shy and sensitive bird, and prefers to live in ponds, lakes, marshlands and water chestnut fields. Breeding season begins in late-April and lasts until mid-October.
