Jacana is a common name for any of six Old World and two New World species of tropical birds of the family Jacanidae, of the order Charadriiformes. Some Old World species are often called lily-trotters; this name reflects their ability to walk on water-lily leaves and other floating vegetation, thanks to their exceptionally long toes. In six of the species a horny shield covers the forehead as an extension of the bill, and all have either a bony knob or a sharp spur at the bend of the wing. The smallest species is the lesser jacana (Microparra capensis), of Africa, at 15 cm. The pheasant- tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus), of Asia, is about 56 centimetres long, but up to 25 centimetres of this is attributable to its long tail feathers; all other jacanas have short tails. The northern jacana (Jacana spinosa), of Central America and the West Indies, occurs as far north as southern Texas. Adults have the head and chest black, the body chestnut, and the wings bright yellow-green; in young birds the under parts are white. Research Jacana
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Jacana
