# African Jacana (*Actophilornis africanus*) The African Jacana is a beautiful bird known for its long legs and big feet. It walks on lily pads and floats on water, making it look like it's dancing! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![African Jacana](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/African_Jacana_%28Actophilornis_africanus%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Chris Eason, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:African_Jacana_%28Actophilornis_africanus%29.jpg) ## Appearance The African Jacana is a striking bird with a chestnut-brown body, a black cap, and a bright white neck stripe. It has a vivid sky-blue frontal shield and exceptionally long, spider-like toes for walking on water plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Jacanidae - **Genus:** Actophilornis ## Interesting facts - Dad Jacanas carry their tiny chicks safely tucked under their wings. - Its babies can swim and dive almost immediately after hatching! - Their long toes help them balance on lily pads, making them look like water ballerinas! - They lay shiny, olive-brown eggs that blend perfectly with swampy water. ## Special abilities - **Water Walker:** African Jacana can seemingly walk on water because its incredibly long toes spread weight over floating vegetation, preventing sinking. - **Super Dad:** African Jacana has super dads that incubate eggs and care for chicks, allowing mothers to find other mates. - **Underwater Hide & Seek:** African Jacana chicks can dive underwater and cling to vegetation, hiding completely from predators with only their bill exposed. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 23-31 cm - **Wingspan:** 45-50 cm - **Weight:** 0.13-0.26 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-12 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 22-26 days ## Diet & Feeding These birds nibble on insects, small fish, and seeds found in watery habitats. - **Primary Foods:** Aquatic insects, Insect larvae, Small fish, Seeds, Snails, Crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** African Fish Eagle (*Haliaeetus vocifer*) — Preys on adult jacanas and their chicks. - **Eaten by:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — Ambush predator of adults and chicks near water. - **Eaten by:** [Nile Monitor](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nile-monitor) (*Varanus niloticus*) — Raids nests for eggs and preys on chicks. - **Eats:** African Water Stick Insect (*Laccotrephes robustus*) — Eats this common aquatic insect in wetlands. - **Eats:** African Bladder Snail (*Bulinus globosus*) — Forages for this small snail among aquatic plants. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't disturb their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify African Jacana? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is African Jacana? 23-31 cm ### What is African Jacana's wingspan? 45-50 cm ### How much does African Jacana weigh? 0.13-0.26 kg ### How long does African Jacana live? 8-12 years ### How fast can African Jacana move? 35 km/h ### What does African Jacana eat? These birds nibble on insects, small fish, and seeds found in watery habitats. ### Where is African Jacana usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [African Jacana: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-jacana)