African Jacana

Actophilornis africanus

With its enormous feet splayed across lily pads, this nimble wader appears to walk on water as it navigates Africa's wetlands.

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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

The African Jacana is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The African Jacana is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The African Jacana can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The African Jacana is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The African Jacana is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The African Jacana is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The African Jacana is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The African Jacana is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The African Jacana is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The African Jacana is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The African Jacana is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The African Jacana is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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