Distinguishing features
The Masked Finfoot is an underwater specialist with a long neck, a striking sharp beak and lobed feet which are green. The male and female both have a black mask and eyebrow that contrasts with a white eyering and lateral cervical stripe. The rest of the neck is grey, the breast is pale and the back, wings and tail are rich brown. The males have an all black chin while the females have a white chin. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 54.5 cm (Length of specimen)
Wingspan
- Wingspan data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It is from the fresh and brackish wetlands of southeastern Asia, Indochina, Malaysia and Indonesia.
It can be found in a range of habitats across southern Asia and northern Indonesia in a variety of fresh to brackish wetlands. This range includes forest, wooded savannah, flooded forest, and even mangrove swamps. (Wikipedia)
Behaviour
They are very secretive. Even experienced ornithologists see them very rarely, making them a prized sighting for birders and twitchers. Because they are so elusive, it is not known if they spend most of their time in the water, where they are almost always seen, or on land. (Wikipedia)
Diet
The Finfoot feeds on aquatic invertebrates, including both adults and larval mayflies, dragonflies, crustaceans, also snails, fish and amphibians. They are thought to be highly opportunistic and take some of their prey directly off the waters surface. They are adept out of water and will forage on the banks as well, unlike the grebes, which they resemble but are not related to. (Wikipedia)
