Northern Jacana vs Lesser Jacana
Jacana spinosa compared with Microparra capensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Northern Jacana | Lesser Jacana |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Jacana spinosa | Microparra capensis |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Jacanidae | Jacanidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.6 cm (10.1 in) | 17.2 cm (6.8 in) |
| Weight | 110.725 g (3.91 oz) | 40.86666666666667 g (1.44 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4 | 3-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Northern Jacana
Least Concern
Lesser Jacana
About These Birds
Northern Jacana
Northern Jacana: 19–23 cm, chestnut-and-black wader with brilliant yellow wing spurs and lobed frontal shield. Inhabits lily-pad-covered freshwater lakes and ponds from Mexico and Central America to Panama and the Greater Antilles. Polyandrous; males incubate and brood chicks. Walks on floating vegetation. Invertebrate and seed feeder.
Lesser Jacana
Lesser Jacana: 15–17 cm, Africa's smallest jacana with rufous crown, white supercilium, and plain brown-and-white plumage lacking a frontal shield. Inhabits floating vegetation on ponds and swamps from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. Secretive and often overlooked. Insectivorous. Monogamous; nests on floating vegetation.