Wattled Jacana

Jacana jacana

A 'lily trotter' with enormously long toes for walking on floating plants; fathers raise the chicks.

Checking teacher reviews…

Teacher? Sign in to review this page →Report a mistake

About the Wattled Jacana

Wattled jacanas are about 10 inches long. They have chestnut backs, black bodies, yellow bills and a red shield on the forehead with red wattles near the bill. Their long, thin toes spread their weight so they can walk on floating plants. They live in wetlands across South America, Trinidad and Panama and eat insects, worms, snails, small crustaceans, fruit and seeds.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Jacana jacana^[1]
Size: About 10 inches long; females often larger.^[1]
Diet: Insects, worms, small crustaceans, snails, fruit and water-plant seeds.^[1]
Habitat: Freshwater wetlands with floating plants.^[1]
Where it lives: South America, Trinidad and Panama.^[1]
Group life: One female with several males. Active during the day.^[1]
Babies: Eggs on floating nests hatch after 22 to 28 days; males raise the chicks.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2019).^[2]

Fun facts

Jacanas have the longest toes for their size of any bird.^[1]
Males sometimes carry eggs tucked under their wings.^[1]
Jacanas are nicknamed 'lily trotters.'^[1]

Vocabulary

wattle: A fleshy flap of skin hanging from a bird's head or neck.
spur: A sharp, pointed growth on a bird's leg or wing.
wetland: Land that is soaked with water, like a marsh or swamp.
diurnal: Active mainly during the day.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · AmazoniaSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Wattled jacana.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/wattled-jacana (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Jacana jacana (Wattled Jacana).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22693553/163616643 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

More Shorebirds

American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaAn elegant shorebird with blue legs and a long, upturned bill that it sweeps through shallow water to catch food.American Golden PloverPluvialis dominicaA speckled gold-and-black shorebird that may fly about 20,000 miles a year between the Arctic and South America.American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusA chunky black-and-white shorebird with a bright red-orange bill that it jabs into shells to eat oysters and clams.Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanusA black-and-white wading bird whose long pink legs are, for its size, longer than any bird's except a flamingo's.DunlinCalidris alpinaA drooping-billed sandpiper with a black belly patch in summer that flies in swirling flocks up to 55 mph.Red KnotCalidris canutusA robin-sized shorebird that flies up to about 19,000 miles a year and refuels on horseshoe crab eggs in Delaware Bay.Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresA sturdy, orange-legged shorebird that flips over stones and shells to find food, true to its name.SanderlingCalidris albaThe world's most widespread sandpiper, the little bird that runs back and forth chasing waves on sandy beaches.Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusA small, plump plover with a black 'necklace' and partly webbed toes that nests in the sub-Arctic.Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaA sparrow-sized sandpiper that can double its weight before flying nonstop up to 2,000 miles over the ocean.Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusA chunky shorebird whose 'short' bill is twice as long as its head; it probes mud like a sewing machine.