About the Lesser Jacana
The lesser jacana is a wader in the family Jacanidae and can be found in Africa. It can be recognized by its long legs and claws that allow it to walk on aquatic vegetation – although it is not to be confused with the larger African Jacana. The lesser jacana is insectivorous. Its conservation status is of least concern.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The smallest species in the Jacanidae family, the lesser jacana is 15–16 cm tall and weighs 41g. It has a white breast, golden forehead, cinnamon crown, and dark eyestripe. Its mantle and wings are also darker. As other jacanas, they have long legs and claws which are adapted for walking on lily-pads and aquatic grasses – which is why jacanas are sometimes referred to as lily trotters or Jesus birds because they appear as though they are walking on the surface of the water. Lesser jacana eggs resemble African jacana eggs but are smaller. Voice: Lesser jacanas have been observed to make five distinct vocalizations. The first of these is a distress call that the lesser jacana will produce when its chicks are approached, a chatter that sounds like "hwi hwi hwi …." The most common vocalization is a melodic, low-pitch "woot" produced by both sexes.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Lesser Jacana lives
When to see the Lesser Jacana
Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
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