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(Attempt to disguise some of the copied text. Distribution expanded. Photo of Juvenile. References) |
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− | [[Image:African_Jacanaa.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|CollinBax|CollinBax}}<br /> | + | [[Image:African_Jacanaa.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|CollinBax|CollinBax}}<br />Lowersabie, [[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], August 2008]] |
;[[:Category:Actophilornis|Actophilornis]] africanus | ;[[:Category:Actophilornis|Actophilornis]] africanus | ||
− | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
− | Length 25-30 cm, mass 115-274 g | + | Length 25-30 cm, mass 115-274 g<br /> |
− | + | '''Adult:''' | |
− | '''Adult:''' | + | *Chestnut upperparts with black wingtips, rear neck and eyestripe |
− | + | *White underparts | |
− | '''Immature:''' | + | *Chestnut belly patch |
+ | *Blue bill extends up as a coot-like head shield | ||
+ | *Legs and very long toes are grey | ||
+ | *Eyes are dark brown<br /> | ||
+ | Sexes alike but the females are larger than males | ||
+ | ====Similar Species==== | ||
+ | '''Immature:''' is 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). | ||
+ | [[Image:African Jacana Juvanile.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile <br />Photo by {{user|JohnathanAKR|JohnathanAKR}}<br />[[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], August 2007]] | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
− | + | Widespread thoughout sub-Saharan [[Africa]]<br /> | |
+ | '''Western Africa''': [[Mauritania]], [[Senegambia]], [[Senegal]], The [[Gambia]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Guinea]], [[Mali]], [[Sierra Leone]], [[Liberia]], [[Ivory Coast]], [[Burkina Faso]], [[Ghana]], [[Togo]], [[Benin]], [[Nigeria]], [[Niger]], [[Chad]], [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]], [[Congo]], [[Angola]]<br /> | ||
+ | '''Eastern Africa''': [[Sudan]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Djibouti]], [[Somalia]], [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]], [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zanzibar]], [[Zambia]], [[Mozambique]], [[Malawi]]<br /> | ||
+ | '''Southern Africa''': [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[South Africa]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]], [[Lesotho]], [[Swaziland]]<br /> | ||
+ | '''African Islands''': Saint Helena, [[Madagascar]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
A monotypic species. | A monotypic species. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
− | + | Lagoons, lakes, pans, river backwaters; usually with fringing vegetation and floating water lilies, Polygonum and other water plants. | |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
The Jacanas are a group of waders in the order [[:Category:Charadriiformes|Charadriiformes]]. Their huge feet and claws enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. | The Jacanas are a group of waders in the order [[:Category:Charadriiformes|Charadriiformes]]. Their huge feet and claws enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. | ||
− | + | ====Breeding==== | |
− | + | 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. | |
+ | ==References== | ||
+ | #Avibase | ||
+ | #Animal Pictures Archive | ||
+ | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Actophilornis+africanus}} | {{GSearch|Actophilornis+africanus}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Actophilornis]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Actophilornis]] |
Revision as of 10:19, 7 June 2009
- Actophilornis africanus
Identification
Length 25-30 cm, mass 115-274 g
Adult:
- Chestnut upperparts with black wingtips, rear neck and eyestripe
- White underparts
- Chestnut belly patch
- Blue bill extends up as a coot-like head shield
- Legs and very long toes are grey
- Eyes are dark brown
Sexes alike but the females are larger than males
Similar Species
Immature: is 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
Widespread thoughout sub-Saharan Africa
Western Africa: Mauritania, Senegambia, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Swaziland
African Islands: Saint Helena, Madagascar
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
Habitat
Lagoons, lakes, pans, river backwaters; usually with fringing vegetation and floating water lilies, Polygonum and other water plants.
Behaviour
The Jacanas are a group of waders in the order Charadriiformes. Their huge feet and claws enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
Breeding
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.
References
- Avibase
- Animal Pictures Archive
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) African Jacana. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/African_Jacana