Bird Guide

African Jacana vs Comb-crested Jacana

African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus)

African Jacana

Actophilornis africanus

Medium189 gWetland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Chris Eason · CC BY 2.0
Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea)

Comb-crested Jacana

Irediparra gallinacea

Medium99 gWetland

This species is unmistakable. It has a black crown and hindneck with a fleshy red wattle covering the forehead and forecrown, contrasting with a white face and throat. The comb is pinker in breeding adults, more orange when not breeding. There is a broad black band on the lower breast with white belly. The underwing and flight feathers, which show most prominently in flight, are black. Back and upperwing mainly grey-brown with black primary coverts, rump and tail. The long legs with extremely long toes trail in flight. The male is slightly smaller than the female and measures 20–22 cm (7.9–8. Voice: This species gives a squeaky, high-pitched chittering, also described as a shrill trill with an explosive soft bugle.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Jacana and Comb-crested Jacana.