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The African Jacana (Actophilornis africana) is a jacana. The jacanas are a group of waders in the family Charadriidae, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. | The African Jacana (Actophilornis africana) is a jacana. The jacanas are a group of waders in the family Charadriidae, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. | ||
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. | 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 19:11, 15 March 2008
- Actophilornis africanus
Identification
These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are 30cm long, but the females are larger than the males. 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.
Identification: About size of bantam; long-legged, with very long toes; body rich chestnut; hind neck black; fore neck white (conspicuous at distance) grading into golden yellow on breast; bill and frontal shield pale bluish. 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). Measurements: Length 25-30 cm; wing 143-156-180; tail 38-56; tarsus 56-68; culmen 47-58 (variable in size; female usually bigger than male). Weight (male) 115-132,8-162 g, (female) 176-238,3-274 g. Bare Parts: Iris dark brown; bill and frontal shield pale grey-blue; legs and toes slate grey.
Distribution
They are found worldwide within the tropical zone.
Distribution: Africa S of Sahara; in s Africa mainly absent from dry W and highveld, except as vagrant (Bloemfontein, Mariental, Keetmanshoop, Okahandja, Kalahari Gemsbok National Park).
Taxonomy
Habitat
Behaviour
The African Jacana (Actophilornis africana) is a jacana. The jacanas are a group of waders in the family Charadriidae, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. 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.
