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Size
15-23 inches (38-58 cm) in length -
Diet
Primarily insects -
Range
Most of South America east of the Andes -
Habitat
Freshwater wetlands with floating vegetation
Physical Characteristics
- Mostly chestnut-brown in color with yellow markings on the wings. The forehead is bright red and red wattles hang on either side of their yellow bill. Legs and toes are very long.
- Juveniles will have some white plumage that darkens over time.
- Females can grow to be almost double the size of males.
- Females can grow to 23 inches (58 cm) in length and 9 ounces (255 g) in weight.
- Males can grow to around 15 inches (38 cm) in length and 4.8 ounces (136 g) in weight.
- Toes and claws can cover an area up to 5×8 inches (12×20 cm). Long toes and claws are used to spread weight across large areas, enabling them to walk across lily pads on the water’s surface.
- Sharp spur on the elbow of each wing for defense.
Animal Fun Fact
Jacanas will hunt prey from the surface of floating vegetation like lily pads.
Diet / Feeding
- Primarily insects and other invertebrates, also small fishes, amphibians and mixed fruit and seeds.
- Hunts prey from the surface of floating vegetation and will also flip vegetation to search.
Range / Habitat
- Occurs from Panama and Trinidad south through most of South America east of the Andes.
- Found in freshwater wetlands with floating vegetation.
Reproduction & Growth
- Females lay 3-4 eggs at a time
- Highly polyandrous with females defending and breeding with up to 3 or more males, each defending a small territory. Their nests are constructed to meet the needs of their floating habitat and are often partially submerged.
Conservation Status
- “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
Additional Information
- Strong swimmers and divers, but only fly for short distances.
- Generally, very noisy, and six different vocal types have been observed:
- Food location alert
- Alarm, alerting others to potential danger
- Alarm, chick-gathering
- Territorial
- Chicks to adults
- Pre-copulatory
Sources
- iucn.org
- birdsoftheworld.org
- dwazoo.com
