Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766))
Scientific name: Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766)
Common name: Wattled Jacana
French name: Jacana noir
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Jacanidae
Size: Body size: 17 to 25 cm; Weight: 90 to 150 g. Females are larger than males.
Habitat: Shallow ponds or rivers with aquatic vegetation.
Food: Insects, invertebrates and seeds, caught or picked at the surface of water. The Wattled Jacana also visits grasslands in the vicinity of water.
Nesting: Females fight each other in order to mate with several males (usually three). Males build floating nests, sit on the eggs and take care of the young. Females guard the territory. There are generally four eggs per clutch.
Migration: Sedentary.
Geographic area: Central America and South America, from Panama to Argentina. It is missing in Chile.
The Wattled Jacana has long grey legs ended by very long fingers which are used to walk at the surface of water on floating vegetation.
This is a black bird with chestnut upper parts. The remiges, visible in flight, are pale greenish yellow with a thin dark border at their tip.
The fore edge of the wings bears a small spur which is used during fights.
The bill is yellow with caruncles at the base. The forehead shows a double red shield.
Juveniles are a paler colour. Their under side is white and they show a white stripe running from the forehead to the back of the head.
There are six sub-species which may show variations of black and chestnut colour.
The Wattled Jacana is a very noisy bird.

Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana) - French Guiana, France - March 7th 2012
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Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana)
I have shot this picture at Sinnamary, from one bird watching hut at the Yiyi marshes.
The ability of Jacanas to walk at the surface of water on aquatic vegetation is the source of their common name of "Jesus Birds".
Wattled Jacanas observed near the bird watching hut were all juveniles.


Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana) - French Guiana, France - March 7th 2012
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Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana)
Other juvenile Wattled Jacana observed at the Yiyi marshes.


Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana) - French Guiana, France - March 13th 2012
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Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana)
I have shot this picture in the marshes of Caw.

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