Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa Order: CHARADRIIFORMES Family: Jacanas (Jacanidae)
Northern Jacana Portrait
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General

Northern Jacana: Rail-like relative of plovers and shorebirds; is unique in having extremely long toes. Body is chestnut-brown with black head and neck, and flashy yellow-green flight feathers. Forehead has a fleshy orange-yellow frontal shield arising from base of bill. Sexes are similar, but female is slightly larger. Juvenile is gray-brown above with black on back of neck and crown, and has all white underparts.

Range and Habitat

Northern Jacana: Found from south Texas to Panama. Found in marshes, flooded fields, and slow-moving waters.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"jik"

Interesting Facts

 The Northern Jacana is very similar to the Wattled Jacana, with which it overlaps in Panama, and was formerly considered conspecific with that form.

 In Jamaica this bird is also known as the 'Jesus bird', as it appears to walk on water.

 They are quarrelsome and often engage in combat with one another, using sharp spurs on the bend of the wing.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Northern Jacana

Related Birds

Black-necked Stilt
Wilson's Phalarope
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Family
Species Jacana spinosa
Length9 - 10 Inches
Wingspan20 Inches

Northern Jacana

Northern Jacana: Rail-like relative of plovers and shorebirds; is unique in having extremely long toes. Body is chestnut-brown with black head and neck, and flashy yellow-green flight feathers. Forehead has a fleshy orange-yellow frontal shield arising from base of bill. Weak mothlike flight.

● Song: "jik"

● Foraging & Feeding: Northern Jacana: Feeds almost exclusively on insects, but will occasionally take fish. Forages on top of floating vegetation, using its long toes for support while walking; moves rapidly and erratically while gleaning insects from vegetation.

● Breeding & nesting: Northern Jacana: Lays three to five brown eggs with black streaks in a nest made of floating marsh plants, built up just enough to keep the eggs from drowning. Male incubates eggs for 22 to 24 days, and then tends precocial young; female mates with several males each season.

● Similar species: Northern Jacana: None in North America.

Flight Pattern

Slow flight with shallow flaps and glides. Wings held above head briefly upon landing.
Northern Jacana Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Northern Jacana: Found from south Texas to Panama. Found in marshes, flooded fields, and slow-moving waters.
BreedingSolitary nester, Polyandrous
Population
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight2.8 Ounces