Northern Jacana - Behavior and Ecology

Behavior and Ecology

The northern jacana ranges Mexico to Panama, although they occasionally visit the southern United States. It mainly lives in coastal areas. Jacanas live on on floating vegetation in swamps, marshes, and ponds. They will feed on insects on the surface of vegetation and ovules of water lilies. They will also consume snails, worms, small crabs, fish, mollusks, and seeds. The jacana competes with birds of a similar diet like the Sora. Predators of the jacana include snakes, caimans, snapping turtles and various large birds and mammals. The purple gallinule preys on jacana eggs and offspring. Jacanas commonly attack gallinules that enter their territory.