African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
Visual Identification
Appearance
The African Jacana is a striking wader with chestnut-brown upperparts, black neck and head, and white cheeks. Its most distinctive features are its disproportionately long toes and claws, which allow it to walk on floating vegetation. The bird also has a bright blue frontal shield and beak.
Females are noticeably larger and more brightly coloured than males, with heavier bodies and longer wings. Juveniles have a white belly and throat, brown upperparts and a less prominent frontal shield.
Size
Length
23cm to 31cm
Wingspan
50cm to 58cm
Weight
115g to 270g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Brown Black
Secondary Colour
White Blue
Beak Colour
Blue
Leg Colour
Blue
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
African Jacanas inhabit freshwater wetlands, including marshes, swamps, and the edges of lakes and slow-moving rivers across sub-Saharan Africa. They prefer areas with abundant floating vegetation, particularly water lilies, which provide foraging grounds and nesting sites.
While primarily resident, these birds may make local movements in response to changing water levels and habitat conditions. They are absent from arid regions and dense forests but can be found in suitable wetland habitats from Senegal to Sudan and south to South Africa.
Elevation Range
Up to 2,000 meters
Climate zones
Tropical, Subtropical
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a African Jacana. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The African Jacana's extraordinary agility is evident in its ability to 'lily-trot' across floating vegetation with remarkable grace and precision. Its disproportionately long toes allow for exceptional balance and manoeuvrability in its wetland habitat.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Whilst not particularly strong compared to larger birds, the African Jacana possesses sufficient strength to carry its chicks under its wings during flight. However, its light body weight suggests moderate overall strength.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
The African Jacana demonstrates high adaptability through its specialised anatomy for wetland living, ability to thrive in various freshwater habitats across sub-Saharan Africa, and its capacity to adjust to changing water levels and local conditions.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Female African Jacanas exhibit notable aggressiveness in maintaining territories and competing for mates. Their polyandrous breeding system and the need to defend nesting sites in open wetlands contribute to their relatively high aggression levels.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
While specific endurance data is limited, the African Jacana's ability to forage extensively in wetland environments and make local movements in response to habitat changes suggests moderate to good endurance. Their resident status implies they don't undertake long migrations, which might indicate lower long-distance endurance.
Diet
African Jacanas are omnivorous, feeding primarily on insects, molluscs, and small crustaceans found on or near the water's surface. They use their long toes to turn over floating vegetation, searching for prey. Occasionally, they may also consume seeds and aquatic plants.
Whilst they can swim, they prefer to walk in search of their food, although they are also able to catch flying insects and have been seen to pick insects from the backs of buffalo and hippopotami.
Behaviour
African Jacanas are known for their unique 'lily-trotting' behaviour, using their long toes to distribute their weight while walking on floating vegetation.
They are polyandrous, with females maintaining territories and mating with multiple males. These birds are often seen foraging in small groups, probing the water and vegetation for food.
Vocalisation
African jacanas are very vocal birds using a selection of raucous shrieks, moans and almost barking noises. They have a distinctive vocalisation, often described as a loud, harsh 'krrek-krrek' or 'kik-kik-kik'.
They may produce a more rapid series of calls during territorial disputes or when alarmed. Softer contact calls are used between parents and chicks.
Nesting & Breeding
African Jacanas exhibit a polyandrous breeding system, where females compete for territories and mate with multiple males. The breeding season varies by region but often coincides with the rainy season when wetland habitats are most productive.
Males construct floating nests using aquatic vegetation, typically hidden among water lilies or other floating plants. Females lay clutches of 3-4 eggs, which are brown with black markings, camouflaging well against the nest material.
Incubation, performed solely by the male, lasts about 22-28 days. The precocial chicks can swim and dive shortly after hatching but remain under the care of the male for several weeks until they can fly, typically at around 35-40 days old.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While the African Jacana is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, it faces localised threats from habitat loss and degradation.
Wetland conservation efforts across Africa are crucial for maintaining healthy populations of this and other water-dependent species.
Population Data
Global Population Estimate
Unknown
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for African Jacanas in shallow, vegetated wetlands and along lake edges.
- Listen for their distinctive 'krrek-krrek' call, which can help locate them in dense vegetation.
- Observe their unique walking behaviour on lily pads and other floating plants.
- Use binoculars to spot their bright blue frontal shield and beak, which are key identification features.
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Predators
Did You Know?
- African Jacanas can carry their chicks under their wings while flying to safety.
- Their toes can be up to 50% longer than their body, allowing them to distribute their weight over a large area.
- Female African Jacanas are polyandrous and can mate with up to four males in a single breeding season.
FAQs
How many legs does an African Jacana have?
Although you may have seen many pictures where it appears these birds have six legs or more, they only have 2 legs and the extra legs you can see are, in fact, the chicks hiding from danger underneath the adult bird.
Can an African Jacana fly?
Like all members of the Jacana family, African Jacanas are not very good when it comes to flying. They are weak and only capable of short-distance flight.
The feathers of these birds also do moult all at the same time, which makes them unable to fly until the new feathers have grown in. This ensures the feathers stay clean and in good condition, which is important, particularly for water birds.
What is so special about the African Jacana?
Apart from being a beautiful and distinguished-looking wading bird, there are a number of characteristics and habits almost unique to the family of jacanas and of the African jacana in particular.
The first is that unlike nest building and parental care undertaken by the females of most species of birds, with the African jacana, the roles are reversed.
Breeding females will often take up with a harem of males who, individually and under scrutiny from the female, will build a nest and await the arrival of the eggs. Once laid, the female generally moves on to the next male whilst the male parent incubates the eggs until hatching.
The male is particularly protective of ‘his young’ and has developed a method by which he can hide them and move them about during times of danger. Using his wings, he is able to scoop up the young, holding them beneath his wings against his body and move about with just the chicks’ legs protruding and swinging below.
This manoeuvre results in a rather comical and strange looking multi-legged creature which, on occasion, will appear to have eight or more legs!
The size of the toes and claws of the bird combine to produce enormous feet designed to allow easy movement across lily pads and flimsy floating vegetation.
Both the toes and claws are extremely thin, with no form of webbing between them, yet the African jacana is not only an accomplished swimmer but an expert diver as well.
Chicks will often hide from predators by diving below the surface of the water and remaining there with just their beaks protruding above the water’s surface. It is, indeed, a fascinating species to study.
References
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website: BirdLife International. 2016. Actophilornis africanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22693528A93410506. Accessed on 30 August 2024.
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