(ID and breeding edited) |
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
− | + | Length 25-30 cm, mass 115-274 g, females are larger than males. | |
− | + | '''Adult:''' These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They have chestnut upperparts with black wingtips, rear neck and eyestripe. The underparts are white, with a chestnut belly patch in adult birds. The blue bill extends up as a coot-like head shield, and the legs and very long toes are grey. The eyes are dark brown. | |
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+ | '''Immature:''' Similar to adult Lesser Jacana, but much bigger; above light brown (dark brown in adult Lesser Jacana), below white; breast washed golden (no gold in adult Lesser Jacana); flanks brown; frontal shield small (not visible in field); crown and hind neck blackish brown (crown rufous in adult Lesser Jacana); black line through eye; buff eyebrow (eyebrow of adult Lesser Jacana white, forehead buff). | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
They are found worldwide within the tropical zone. | They are found worldwide within the tropical zone. | ||
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
− | The Jacanas are a group of waders in the family [[:Category:Charadriidae|Charadriidae]] | + | The Jacanas are a group of waders in the family [[:Category:Charadriidae|Charadriidae]]. Their huge feet and claws enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. |
'''Breeding:''' The African Jacana breeds throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It is sedentary apart from seasonal dispersion. It lays four black-marked brown eggs in a floating nest. The males, as in some other wader families like the phalaropes, take responsibility for incubation. | '''Breeding:''' The African Jacana breeds throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It is sedentary apart from seasonal dispersion. It lays four black-marked brown eggs in a floating nest. The males, as in some other wader families like the phalaropes, take responsibility for incubation. | ||
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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Actophilornis+africanus}} | {{GSearch|Actophilornis+africanus}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] |
Revision as of 11:45, 18 March 2008
- Actophilornis africanus
Identification
Length 25-30 cm, mass 115-274 g, females are larger than males.
Adult: These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They have chestnut upperparts with black wingtips, rear neck and eyestripe. The underparts are white, with a chestnut belly patch in adult birds. The blue bill extends up as a coot-like head shield, and the legs and very long toes are grey. The eyes are dark brown.
Immature: Similar to adult Lesser Jacana, but much bigger; above light brown (dark brown in adult Lesser Jacana), below white; breast washed golden (no gold in adult Lesser Jacana); flanks brown; frontal shield small (not visible in field); crown and hind neck blackish brown (crown rufous in adult Lesser Jacana); black line through eye; buff eyebrow (eyebrow of adult Lesser Jacana white, forehead buff).
Distribution
They are found worldwide within the tropical zone.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Behaviour
The Jacanas are a group of waders in the family Charadriidae. Their huge feet and claws enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
Breeding: The African Jacana breeds throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It is sedentary apart from seasonal dispersion. It lays four black-marked brown eggs in a floating nest. The males, as in some other wader families like the phalaropes, take responsibility for incubation.