White Breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus):
These white breasted waterhens are very calm and like to go along doing their work silently, unnoticed. As the name suggests, these birds are the water counterparts of normal hens and can be seen mostly near edges of water bodies. In our IIT, the best places to see them are the lake behind SAC and IITG lake. When no one is around, they are bold enough to venture on the roads, so watch out for them!
Local names: Assamese : ???? Daauk
Distinctive Identifiers:
1. Blackish grey upper parts
2. Red small swollen patch at base of upper beak
3. Rufous cinnamon coloured tail, sometimes seen upright
4.Yellowish-green beak and legs
5. White face, fore neck and breast, giving the bird its name.
Hope you identify them with these pictures’ help.
White breasted Waterhen
White-breasted Waterhen
White Breasted Water Hen
A very interesting bird. Thank you for the detail you add to help your readers learn about the birds.
Posted by Bluebird Annie | March 2, 2012, 9:22 AMHope these would be of help when one sees them in India
Posted by Hindupur Avinash | March 3, 2012, 9:58 AMA very beautiful bird. I like the bit of red above the beak.
Posted by Northern Narratives | March 4, 2012, 12:31 AMHi, a beautiful bird and a fine photo! Thanks for liking the Gambian bird photos on my blog.
Posted by petrel41 | March 4, 2012, 11:46 PMThank you. Would like to see more from your birds collection
Posted by Hindupur Avinash | March 4, 2012, 11:53 PMThe birds category at my blog is at
http://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/category/animals/birds/
Posted by petrel41 | March 5, 2012, 12:06 AMLovely!
We do not have such birds in our country.
I´ve read they live in marshes.
Thank you for sharing.
Posted by Rosina | March 5, 2012, 9:09 AMThank you
Yeah, I read that they live only in south and SE Asia. I am trying to capture as many indigenous birds as I can!
Posted by Hindupur Avinash | March 5, 2012, 12:51 PMGreat photos, I have a particular interest in this bird as we managed to record one hiding in a bush on a recent expedition to Oman. It was first recorded in Oman about 30 years ago, and is still very unusual! Nice!
Posted by James Borrell | March 27, 2012, 2:56 PMTo find this in Oman is really interesting! Hinting at changing bird patterns maybe!?
Posted by Hindupur Avinash | March 27, 2012, 8:53 PM