Walks on floating plants. Adults put downy chicks under wings when threatened; carry them with chicks’ legs, toes, trailing. Red forehead, comb. Bill green-yellow, tipped brown. Cheeks golden yellow. Crown, hind neck, breast band, black. Brown underparts. Belly, neck, white. Long, dull green legs; extremely long slender toes. Wings wholly dark in flight. Size; Male 20-21; Female: 24-27cm. Immature: Comb small; crown brown; breast white. Voice: Squeaky ‘pee pee pee’; shrill alarm calls. Habitat: Swamps, lakes lagoons.
The Jacana has exceedingly long toes which it uses to balance on water lillies. When threatened, young jacanas will roll off the top of lillies and hide beneath them until the danger passes.
