Jacana (genus)
Encyclopedia
Jacana is the genus comprising the two jacana
s of the Americas: the Northern Jacana
, Jacana spinosa, and the Wattled Jacana
, Jacana jacana.
These birds are very similar to each other: about 22 cm (9 inches) long, with long necks and fairly long yellow bills. Adults are black and chestnut-brown, with pale yellow-green flight feather
s that contrast conspicuously when a bird flies. Their legs are long and grayish, and as in all jacanas, their toes are extremely long, for walking on aquatic vegetation such as lily pads. They have frontal shields (like those of coot
s) and wattles
; differences in these are the most noticeable differences between the species. Juveniles are brown above and white below, with a buff-white stripe above the eye and a dark stripe behind it. The dark colors are somewhat darker on the juvenile Wattled Jacana than on the Northern.
Together the species occur in marshes in the American tropics and subtropics. The Northern species' range meets the Wattled in western Panama.
As in most other jacanas, males build the nests, incubate, and brood the chicks. Both these species are polyandrous
, at least in some circumstances. Females lay separate clutches (of four eggs) for up to four mates, each of which tends his clutch alone.
For the etymology and pronunciation of Jacana, see the family article.
Jacana
The jaçanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone. See Etymology below for pronunciation....
s of the Americas: the Northern Jacana
Northern Jacana
The Northern Jacana or Northern Jaçana is a wader which is a resident breeder from coastal Mexico to western Panama, and on Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola. It sometimes breeds in Texas, USA, and has also been recorded on several occasions as a vagrant in Arizona...
, Jacana spinosa, and the Wattled Jacana
Wattled Jacana
The Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana is a wader which is a resident breeder from western Panama and Trinidad south through most of South America east of the Andes....
, Jacana jacana.
These birds are very similar to each other: about 22 cm (9 inches) long, with long necks and fairly long yellow bills. Adults are black and chestnut-brown, with pale yellow-green flight feather
Flight feather
Flight feathers are the long, stiff, asymmetrically shaped, but symmetrically paired feathers on the wings or tail of a bird; those on the wings are called remiges while those on the tail are called rectrices . Their primary function is to aid in the generation of both thrust and lift, thereby...
s that contrast conspicuously when a bird flies. Their legs are long and grayish, and as in all jacanas, their toes are extremely long, for walking on aquatic vegetation such as lily pads. They have frontal shields (like those of coot
Coot
Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus Fulica. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water...
s) and wattles
Wattle (anatomy)
A wattle is a fleshy dewlap or caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck in several groups of birds, goats and other animals. In some birds the caruncle is erectile tissue.The wattle is frequently an organ of sexual dimorphism...
; differences in these are the most noticeable differences between the species. Juveniles are brown above and white below, with a buff-white stripe above the eye and a dark stripe behind it. The dark colors are somewhat darker on the juvenile Wattled Jacana than on the Northern.
Together the species occur in marshes in the American tropics and subtropics. The Northern species' range meets the Wattled in western Panama.
As in most other jacanas, males build the nests, incubate, and brood the chicks. Both these species are polyandrous
Polyandry
Polyandry refers to a form of marriage in which a woman has two or more husbands at the same time. The form of polyandry in which a woman is married to two or more brothers is known as "fraternal polyandry", and it is believed by many anthropologists to be the most frequently encountered...
, at least in some circumstances. Females lay separate clutches (of four eggs) for up to four mates, each of which tends his clutch alone.
For the etymology and pronunciation of Jacana, see the family article.