Jacanas are found in tropical and subtropical wetlands around the world.

Jacanas are wading birds with long legs and exceptionally large feet. Their four long toes help spread their weight so they can walk across floating aquatic vegetation such as lily pads. They feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates, but they may also eat seeds and other small aquatic organisms.

Jacanas are known for their unusual breeding behavior. In most species, females are larger and more brightly colored than males and may mate with several males during a breeding season.

The males build nests on floating vegetation, incubate the eggs, and care for the chicks after they hatch. The chicks are precocial and leave the nest soon after hatching and are able to walk across floating plants with their oversized feet.

If danger threatens, a male jacana may carry small chicks beneath his wings while running or flying to safety.

There are eight species in this family: the Lesser Jacana (Microparra capensis), African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus), Madagascar Jacana (Actophilornis albinucha), Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa), Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea), Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus), Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus), and the Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana).

The Northern Jacana and Wattled Jacana are found in Central and South America. The Northern Jacana’s range extends northward into southern Texas, where it is the only jacana regularly found in the United States.