Northern jacana
| Northern jacana | |
|---|---|
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| In Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Jacanidae |
| Genus: | Jacana |
| Species: | J. spinosa |
| Binomial name | |
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Jacana spinosa (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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The northern jacana or northern jaçana (Jacana spinosa) 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, United States, and has also been recorded on several occasions as a vagrant in Arizona [1]. The jacanas are a group of wetland birds, 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. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone. In Jamaica this bird is also known as the 'Jesus bird', as it appears to walk on water.Jacana is Linnæus' scientific Latin spelling of the Brazilian Portuguese jaçanã, pronounced [ʒasaˈnɐ̃], from the Tupi name of the bird. See jacana for pronunciations.
The northern jacana has a dark brown body with a black head and neck. In addition its bill has yellow patches and its forehead has a wattle. Its bill has a white base. When a jacana is in flight, its yellow primary and secondary feathers are visible. Juveniles have a white supercilium and white lores. The female jacana is around twice as big as the male, averaging (145.4g) compared to (86.9g). Jacanas average 241 mm (8 inches)in length with a wingspan averaging 508 mm (20 inches).
The northern jacana ranges Mexico to Panama, although they occasionally visit the southern United States. It mainly lives in coastal areas. Jacanas live on floating vegetation in swamps, marshes, and ponds. They will feed on insects on the surface of vegetation and ovules of water lilies. They will also consume snails, worms, small crabs, fish, mollusks, and seeds. The jacana competes with birds of a similar diet like the sora. Predators of the jacana include snakes, caimans, snapping turtles and various large birds and mammals. The American purple gallinule preys on jacana eggs and offspring. Jacanas commonly attack gallinules that enter their territory.
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Wikipedia