Photo: Chris Eason / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) is a member of the Jacanidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 189 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Jacanidae Jacanas
- Genus Actophilornis
- Species africanus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 189 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Jacanidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Jacana hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The African Jacana is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) is a member of the Jacanidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread inland Sub-Saharan Africa.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 189 g, with a wing length of about 15.6 cm and a tail of around 4.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 17 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Jacana?
The African Jacana is a large bird that weighs around 189 g.
Where does the African Jacana live?
The African Jacana is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread inland Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the African Jacana belong to?
The African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) belongs to the Jacanidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the African Jacana eat?
The African Jacana hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the African Jacana migrate?
The African Jacana is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the African Jacana endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the African Jacana make?
1 real field recording of the African Jacana — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the African Jacana's range?
The African Jacana has a mapped global range of about 17 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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