African Jacana

The African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) is a wader in the family Jacanidae, identifiable by long toes and long claws that enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, their preferred habitat. Jacanas are found worldwide within the tropical zone, and this species is found in sub-Saharan Africa. They feed on insects and other invertebrates picked from the floating vegetation or the surface of the water.

African jacanas are noticeable and easily recognized birds. They can range in length from 23 to 31 cm. Females in jacanas tend to be larger on average than males. Males can weigh between 115 and 224 g (averaging 137 g or 4.8 oz), while females can weigh between 167 and 290 g (on average 261 g). This seems to be the heaviest jacana species, in comparison to the comparable-sized Madagascar jacana. They feature black wingtips, a back neck, and an eyestripe on top of chestnut underparts. In both adults and juveniles, the underparts are chestnut, although in the latter they are white with a chestnut belly patch. The legs and lengthy toes are grey, and the blue bill spreads upward to resemble a coot's head shield.