The African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) is a wading bird found in the wetlands of Sub-Saharan Africa, but other species are found in tropical areas worldwide. It is often called the Lily Trotters.

The African Jacana has chestnut coloured upperparts, white face, black wingtips, black rear neck and black eye-stripe, with a blue beak and blue frontal shield. It has long grey legs with long toes and long claws that enable it to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes.

African Jacana

It can grow to about 30 centimetres (12 inches) tall.

The African Jacana feeds on insects near the surface of the water in lakes and streams.

Female African Jacanas lay four black-marked brown eggs in a floating nest. Both the male and female look after the eggs, and either the male or the female will care for the young chicks. The male African Jacana can pick up and carry chicks underneath its wings.

African Jacana

African Jacana

African Jacana

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM