Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa (Linnaeus, 1758)

22–24 cmLength94 gWeight

The northern jacana or northern jaçana (Jacana spinosa) is a wader which is known as a resident breeder from coastal Mexico to western Panama, and on Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola in the Caribbean.

Busiest months: January–March · Most records: Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: January–March · Most records: Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico

Northern Jacana has been recorded at 245 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 14 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Refugio mixto Caño NegroCosta Rica4,870 records
MEX - Veracruz- MInatitlan - Pantano de Santa AlejandrinMexico2,765 records
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary – Bird's Eye View LodgeBelize2,482 records

More places

Tárcoles – Tour en BoteCosta Rica2,242 records
Crooked Tree Wildlife SanctuaryBelize1,929 records
Zamorano Univ. – Campus Farms and River 740-815 maslHonduras1,884 records
Medio Queso wetlandCosta Rica1,588 records
Maquenque Eco-LodgeCosta Rica1,560 records
CATIE-TurrialbaCosta Rica1,344 records
Parque Metropolitano La SabanaCosta Rica1,330 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Costa Rica Belize Mexico Honduras Panama Nicaragua Guatemala United States

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The northern jacana or northern jaçana (Jacana spinosa) is a wader which is known as a resident breeder from coastal Mexico to western Panama, and on Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola in the Caribbean. It is sometimes known to breed in Texas, United States, and has also been recorded on several occasions as a vagrant in Arizona. The jacanas are a group of wetland birds, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws, which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Northern Jacana?

The Northern Jacana is about 22–24 cm long and weighs around 94 g.

Where does the Northern Jacana live?

Its breeding range: Middle America: 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. It is most often recorded in Costa Rica, Belize and Mexico.

When is the best time to see the Northern Jacana?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, February and March (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Northern Jacana endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Northern Jacana as Least Concern.

What does the Northern Jacana eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Northern Jacana in?

It belongs to the family Jacanas (Jacanidae), order Charadriiformes.

At a glance

Length: 22–24 cm
Weight: 94 g
Habitat: Wetland
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: Active on the ground
Migration: Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 128 mm
Tail: 45 mm
Bill: 32 mm
Tarsus: 56 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Middle America: 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

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2