Microparra capensis
The Lesser Jacana (*Microparra capensis*) is a diminutive and distinctive member of the Jacanidae family, renowned for its "lily-trotting" capabilities. Measuring a mere 15-16 cm in length and weighing 17-52 grams, it is the smallest of all jacanas, earning its common name. Its plumage features a striking chestnut-red back and wings, a pristine white underside, a dark cap extending to the eye, and a prominent blue frontal shield and bill. The extraordinarily long toes and claws, characteristi...
This species primarily inhabits shallow freshwater wetlands, including swamps, marshes, lakes, and oxbow lakes, particularly those with extensive floating vegetation, from sea level up to 1,800 meters.
Their diet primarily consists of insects and their larvae, spiders, and other small aquatic invertebrates, gleaned from the surface of floating vegetation.
Lesser Jacanas are diurnal, spending their days meticulously foraging on floating vegetation. They employ their elongated toes to "walk" across lily pads and other aquatic plants, picking insects and small invertebrates from the surface. While generally solitary or found in pairs, they may gather...
The Lesser Jacana has a widespread but somewhat patchy distribution across sub-Saharan Africa. Its primary breeding range extends from Senegal and Gambia in West Africa, eastward through Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, to Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, and ...
Least Concern
- The Lesser Jacana is the smallest of all jacana species, typically measuring no more than 16 cm in length. - It exhibits a rare polyandrous mating system, where one female mates with multiple males, and each male cares for a separate clutch of eggs. - Males are solely responsible for incubating...