The Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) is a wetland bird that breeds from coastal Mexico to western Panama, and on Cuba, Jamaica, and the Caribbean. They can sometimes be found in Texas and Arizona in the United States. Their large feet and claws allow them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes. Other characteristics are its dark brown body with black head and neck, bill with yellow patches, forehead with a yellow wattle, and bill with a white base. They consume insects on the surface of vegetation, and they also eat snails, worms, small crabs, fish, mollusks, and seeds.
The Northern Jacana has a wingspan in the range of 18.9”-20.1” (48-51 cm) and total weight of .19-.32 lb (.087-.145 kg). The body of the Northern Jacana has an overall length between 6.7”-9.4” (17-24 cm), body width of 1.6”-2.4” (4-6 cm), and standing height of roughly 5.1”-7.3” (13-18.5 cm). The typical lifespan of the Northern Jacana is between 3-6.5 years.
The Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) is a wetland bird that breeds from coastal Mexico to western Panama, and on Cuba, Jamaica, and the Caribbean. They can sometimes be found in Texas and Arizona in the United States. Their large feet and claws allow them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes. Other characteristics are its dark brown body with black head and neck, bill with yellow patches, forehead with a yellow wattle, and bill with a white base. They consume insects on the surface of vegetation, and they also eat snails, worms, small crabs, fish, mollusks, and seeds.
The Northern Jacana has a wingspan in the range of 18.9”-20.1” (48-51 cm) and total weight of .19-.32 lb (.087-.145 kg). The body of the Northern Jacana has an overall length between 6.7”-9.4” (17-24 cm), body width of 1.6”-2.4” (4-6 cm), and standing height of roughly 5.1”-7.3” (13-18.5 cm). The typical lifespan of the Northern Jacana is between 3-6.5 years.
