African jacana

Actophilornis africanus

TAXONOMY

Parra africana Gmelin, 1789, Ethiopia. Monotypic.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Lily trotter; French: Jacana àpoitrine dorée; German: Blaustim-blatthühnchen; Spanish: Jacana Africana.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

9–12.2 in (23–31 cm); 4–9 oz (137–261 g). Brown with white and black areas. Blue forehead shield.

DISTRIBUTION

Tropical Africa, including wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Rarely found in forests or dry areas.

HABITAT

Marshes, ponds, and lakes with floating aquatic vegetation, including both permanent and seasonal sites. Also uses tall vegetation near shore for shelter.

BEHAVIOR

Males and females actively defend territories with vocal calls. Females will engage in fights with intruders.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Eats a wide range of aquatic plant seeds and invertebrates.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Breeds during rainy season. Females are polyandrous mate with up to four males and guard their territories. Males incubate eggs and care for chicks. Males build nests of leaves and plants on floating vegetation. Females lay four glossy brown, speckled eggs. Incubation is 22–28 days. Breeding success is less than 50%.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.