Photo: Paul Kehrer / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Jacana
Jacana spinosa
Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) is a member of the Jacanidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 94 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 Jacana
- Species spinosa
Where it lives
Inland southern Sinaloa and central Tamaulipas (northern Mexico; rarely southern Texas, where formerly bred) to western Panama and including Cozumel (Mexico); and Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 94 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Jacanidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Jacana hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Northern Jacana is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) belongs to the Jacanidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA inland s Sinaloa and c Tamaulipas (n Mexico; rarely s Texas, where formerly bred) to w Panama and including Cozumel (Mexico); and Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 94 g, with a wing length of about 12.8 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Jacana?
The Northern Jacana is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 94 g.
Where does the Northern Jacana live?
The Northern Jacana is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA inland s Sinaloa and c Tamaulipas (n Mexico; rarely s Texas, where formerly bred) to w Panama and including Cozumel (Mexico); and Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Northern Jacana belong to?
The Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) belongs to the Jacanidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Northern Jacana eat?
The Northern Jacana hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Northern Jacana migrate?
The Northern Jacana is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern 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 Northern Jacana make?
1 real field recording of the Northern 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 Northern Jacana's range?
The Northern Jacana has a mapped global range of about 1 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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