African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
| Scientific name | Actophilornis africanus |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Jacanidae |
| Size | Length about 23-31 cm; weight about 115-260 g |
How to identify
Chestnut waterbird with black-and-white head and neck and a pale blue frontal shield above the bill; enormously long toes and claws spread its weight over floating vegetation.
Habitat
Freshwater wetlands, lake margins, marshes, and slow rivers with abundant floating and emergent vegetation
Diet
Insects, spiders, snails, and other small invertebrates plucked from floating plants, plus some seeds
When it is active
Diurnal, foraging throughout the day across floating vegetation
Where it lives
Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, including East African lakes and wetlands such as those in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
How to spot it
Scan floating lily pads and reed edges on calm lakes and pools; the birds walk deliberately and are easy to see in good light
Photography tips
Shoot low from a boat or hide for eye-level images; the reflective water and lily pads make clean backgrounds in soft morning light
Threats
Wetland drainage, habitat degradation, and pollution locally, but the species remains common and widespread
Similar species
Told from the Lesser Jacana by its much larger size, chestnut body, and pale blue frontal shield
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