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Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosaOrder: CHARADRIIFORMESFamily: Jacanas (Jacanidae)
Northern Jacana Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger
  • Eye Color: Dark brown to black.
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown Color: Black
  • Forehead Color: Yellow wattle.
  • Nape Color: Black
  • Throat Color: Black
  • Cere color: No Data
Northern Jacana Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 23-25 cm (9-10 in)
  • Weight: 79 g (2.8 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Red, Black, Yellow
  • Underparts: Red-brown
  • Upperparts: Red-brown
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Northern Jacana Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Slow flight with shallow flaps and glides. Wings held above head briefly upon landing.
  • Wingspan Range: 51 cm (20 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Rounded Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Red-brown
  • Under Tail: Red-brown
  • Leg Color: Gray-green
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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