FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Jacanas, also known as 'lily trotter' and 'lotus bird' are aquatic animals belonging to the family Jacanidae. They can walk easily or balance on lily pads owing to their straight claws and hence the nickname. The eight species of the family Jacanidae include the Northern jacana (Jacana spinosa), the African jacana (Actophilornis africanus), the Australian lotus bird (Irediparra gallinacea), the Wattled jacana(Jacana jacana), and the pheasant tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus). The jacana is mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, Central, and South America. Their habitats mainly constitute inland lakes, ponds, marshes, and floating vegetation. They use their long legs and elongated toes to walk on floating vegetation in search of food, to defend territories, or go into hiding when confronted by predators. The jacana's most common threats include purple gallinule, snakes, turtles, and floodwater. They are also great swimmers and divers. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, the jacana is declared as the species of Least Concern because of its stable population.
One unique characteristic of these birds is that they are polyandrous in nature which means the females mate with more than one male. This breeding system is not very common among birds. The females exhibit dominant traits over the males and guard their territories against rivals. Females are also more aggressive and larger in size than males. Male birds build the nest, look after the chicks and incubate the eggs. Read on to know more fascinating facts about this incredible bird. If you like this article, then check out golden pheasant and common buzzard facts too.
Jacana is a kind of aquatic bird belonging to the family Jacanidae.
They belong to the class Aves.
The exact population of this species of bird is unknown but they have quite a stable population range and no widespread threats.
Different species of jacana are distributed in various parts of the world in the tropical and subtropical areas. The African jacana (Actophilornis africanus) is mainly concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, Jacana spinosa are found in the range extending from Mexico to western Panama, Australian lotus birds are found in the eastern Australia coast and New Guinea. Pheasant-tailed jacanas are found in India, the Philippines and Indonesia.
The jacana is found mainly in water bodies containing floating vegetation like inland lakes, ponds, marshes, wet grassy areas, and farmlands. They depend on wetlands to survive. The floating aquatic plants have roots attached to the substrate or float on the water column. These birds build nests on these submerged plants. They are usually found from sea level to 8,000 ft.
One female jacana breeds with multiple males. The dominant female defends territories of one to four males at the same time. They are usually found in pairs or in groups residing in their territories along with the chicks.
Not much is known about the lifespan of jacanas but they live approximately 6.5 years.
Jacanas have a unique way of breeding which is polyandrous in nature. Females are dominant over males and breed with more than one male. The breeding season falls somewhere around the rainy season. The female jacana usually initiates the process and grows larger with more prominent tail feathers. Once the breeding starts to take place, the male jacanas start building the nest on the water bodies. Their nests are made up of water lily leaves and other plant materials on top of the floating vegetation. Females usually lay at least about four eggs. It is then the responsibility of the male bird to incubate the eggs and look after the fledgling. After almost 22-28 days of incubation, chicks emerge from the eggs. The chicks have a camouflage design on their plumage.
According to the Internation Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), jacanas are declared as species of Least Concern because of their stable population and no widespread threats. However, destruction of their habitats and shortage of food supply is a primary concern.
Long toes and claws are a characteristic feature of these aquatic birds that helps them to fetch insects or worms from the water or lily pads. Their long toes can reach up to 4 in (10.2 cm) in some species. They also have long legs which help them to walk across the aquatic vegetation. Jacanas have black or reddish-brown color plumage. They have contrasting feather colors which are used to confuse the predator. The colors usually vary from one species to another. The northern jacana has greenish-yellow flight feathers, dark brown to black neck and head along with a yellow bill. The wattled jacana has a chestnut-colored back and wings while the rest of the body is black. The African jacanas have a chestnut-colored upper part with black wingtips.
The cuteness of a jacana bird usually stems from its appearance. They have distinct long toes and slender legs. Jacanas have a variety of colors on their wings and body which varies from species to species. For example, the Northern jacana has a dark brown body with a black head and yellow bill. Their feathers are yellowish-green in color. Young jacanas have brownish plumage along with white underparts. They are rather beautiful in terms of appearance.
Jacanas are known to be extremely vocal. They usually communicate during mating calls or to warn during the advancement of any preditor. The northern and pheasant-tailed jacanas sound like the mewing sound of a cat which transforms into a strident cry during a crisis. Male and female birds both communicate through the calls but the males have higher-pitched voices.
Jacanas are usually 6-23 in (15-58 cm) in length with their toes and claws ranging up to 4 in (10.2 cm) in some species. They are almost thrice the size of a Bee hummingbird 2-2.4 in (5-6.1 cm).
Not much is known about the height jacanas can attain while flying but they are weak fliers. They usually fly for a short distance.
They are medium-sized birds and weigh around 0.1-0.6 lb (40-275 g).
Scientists do not have any specific names for the male and female species of this bird. They are usually referred to as male jacana and female jacana.
A baby jacana bird is usually referred to as a chick.
These birds are omnivores and use their bills to grab their food. They primarily feed on insects and other invertebrates. Their diet mainly consists of insects, snails, worms, seeds, and small fishes.
Both male and female partner up to protect their territory and are a bit aggressive in nature. If predators enter their boundaries, males from their nests call the female bird who might attack the predators with the help of their wings or bills. So, they only get aggressive when they sense danger from predators.
The key component of their habitat is water and they will not survive without it. So it is not recommended to keep the jacana in the confinement of a home.
Jacana baby birds can swim really well just like their parents. Jacanas are known to be great swimmers and divers. A jacana chick can stay underwater for long periods of time as they have special breathing holes on their bills. So, they are capable of diving down inside the water for safety with only their bills emerging outside. This 'snorkeling' behavior of the chicks has been noted in young wattled jacanas, pheasant-tailed jacanas, and northern jacanas.
The term jacana comes from the term jasaná, which is of an undetermined language from the Tupian languages.
Jacana is also known as 'lotus bird' and 'lily trotter'. Their oversized feet help them to balance on lily pads and other floating vegetation, hence the name lily trotter. Owing to their long legs and toes they appear to be walking on water so they are also called the 'Jesus bird'.
We observe a role reversal when it comes to the jacana birds as the females, who are more dominant than the males, defend their territories. The female is the protector of the territory and hence is double the size of the male. The males on the other hand build the nest and also look after the chicks. Each female defends the territories of more than one male. If a predator enters the boundary, the male seated on the nest calls the female who performs a territorial display by stretching their wings. If required, the female might attack the opponent with the help of their sharp spurs on the wings.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including scarlet macaw, or pheasant.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Jacana coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.