The lesser jacana is a wader in the family Jacanidae and can be found in Africa. It can be recognized by its long legs and claws that allow it to walk on aquatic vegetation – although it is not to be confused with the larger African Jacana. The lesser jacana is insectivorous. Its conservation status is of least concern.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely on shallow freshwater wetlands with abundant floating vegetation, especially water-lilies and other aquatic plants. Favors quiet pans, marshy lake margins, floodplains, farm dams, and seasonally inundated grasslands. Avoids fast-flowing rivers and large expanses of deep open water. During dry periods it tracks receding waters and may disperse locally to newly flooded sites.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This dainty jacana tiptoes across lily pads using extraordinarily long toes and claws that spread its weight over floating leaves. Like many jacanas, it shows sex-role reversal: females can be polyandrous while males incubate the eggs and care for the chicks. It is often confused with the larger African Jacana but is smaller, slimmer, and lacks the bold chestnut body of its cousin.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low fluttering flights over water
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs, though small loose groups may gather on rich feeding patches. Nests on a small floating platform anchored to vegetation. Males perform most or all incubation and brood care, while females may mate with multiple males in succession. Chicks are precocial and follow the attending male soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, high-pitched squeaks and thin ‘tsip’ notes used for contact. During agitation or short flights it may give rapid, tinkling trills. Overall, it is a relatively quiet species compared with other wetland birds.
