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African Jacana

2020 Bonanza Bird #8: African Jacana

December 1, 2020 in Birdorable Bonanza 2020 and Waders with 2 comments
Birdorable African Jacana

Today’s new species is a type of wading bird found in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The African Jacana is easily recognized by its unique chestnut plumage, its blue beak and facial shield, and by those toes. Look at those crazy long toes!

African Jacanas feed on insects and other small organisms they glean from aquatic vegetation. Their long toes allow them to move across floating wetland vegetation by spreading their weight over a large area. Jacanas have precocial young, meaning chicks are able to walk around on their own shortly after hatching. You better believe they have long toes too, so they can follow dad around as he points out food to them.

Photo of a baby African Jacana
African Jacana Chick by Bernard DUPONT (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Yes, they follow dad around – African Jacanas have a sort of complete role reversal when it comes to breeding. Males care for the eggs and raise the chicks completely on their own.

Tomorrow we’ll add a tiny South American hummingbird with a crazy plumage, including tufts on the head and the neck. Do you know the species?

Cute African Jacana Gifts

Birdorable African Jacana Sweatshirt
From Amazon
Birdorable African Jacana Sweatshirt
Birdorable African Jacana Tank Top
From Amazon
Birdorable African Jacana Tank Top
Birdorable African Jacana Raglan Baseball Tee
From Amazon
Birdorable African Jacana Raglan Baseball Tee
Birdorable African Jacana Pullover Hoodie
From Amazon
Birdorable African Jacana Pullover Hoodie

Comments

Just Another Birder on December 1, 2020 at 3:58 PM wrote:
Oh cool! I'm glad to see that a jacana has been added. Is the next one a Tufted Coquette?
Spurwing Plover on May 19, 2022 at 7:06 AM wrote:
Papa on the nest he hatches the Eggs and raises the Young carries them back to the nest under his Wings

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