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WetlandPlatform nestMedium · 189 g
ID tip
The African jacana is a conspicuous and unmistakable bird. It measures 23 to 31 cm (9.1 to 12.2 in) in overall length. As in other jacanas, the female is on average larger than the male. Males can weigh from 115 to 224 g (4.1 to 7.9 oz), averaging 137 g (4.8 oz) and females from 167 to 290 g (5.9 to 10.2 oz), averaging 261 g (9.2 oz). Alongside the similarly-sized Madagascar jacana, this appears to be the heaviest jacana species. They have chestnut upperparts with black wingtips, rear neck, and eyestripe.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the African Jacana
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the African Jacana
The map shades 39 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Equatorial Guinea, Somalia.
About the African Jacana
The African jacana is a wader in the family Jacanidae. It has long toes and long claws that enable it to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, its preferred habitat. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. For the origin and pronunciation of the name, see Jacanidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Side by side: African Jacana vs Bronze-winged Jacana · African Jacana vs Pheasant-tailed Jacana · African Jacana vs Comb-crested Jacana
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