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Birds
Northern jacana
Northern jacana · Jacana spinosa
The northern jacana balances elegantly on water lily leaves, delighting with its colourful frontal wattles and unique long toes.
Fact file
- Size
- About 23 to 30 centimetres in body length, around 60 to 80 grams in weight
- Males and females
- Females are significantly larger than males
- Sounds
- Bright, whistling calls and short, excited chirping
- Diet
- Feeds on insects, worms, seeds and small aquatic animals
- Offspring
- Four eggs per clutch, chicks hatch after about 22 days
How to identify Northern jacana
The northern jacana has striking plumage: the body is mostly chocolate-brown with a deep black neck and breast. The bright yellow frontal wattle and nasal shield stand out from a distance and make it easier to distinguish from similar species.
The wings show distinctive yellow and green coverts in flight, while the long, splayed toes catch the eye. These allow the northern jacana to spread its weight across water lily leaves. With a body length of about 23 to 30 centimetres, its silhouette is elegant and slender – clearly more graceful than that of common moorhens.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 2 places where you can see Northern jacana
Where Northern jacana live
Discover Northern jacana on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
