African Jacana

African jacanas (Actophilornis africanus) are waders in the family Jacanidae, identifiable by long toes and long claws that enable them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, their preferred habitat. Distribution: Jacanas are found worldwide within the tropical zone, and this species is found in sub-saharan Africa Description: African jacanas  are about 30 cm long, but females are larger than males. They have chestnut upperparts with black wingtips, rear neck, and eyestripe. The underparts are also chestnut in the adults, only in juveniles they are white with a chestnut belly patch. The blue bill extends up as a coot-like head shield, and the legs and long toes are grey. Breeding: African jacanas breed throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It lays four black-marked brown eggs in a floating nest. African Jacana have a polyandrous mating system, in which females can have multiple male partners. After mating and egg laying, the female leaves the nest site and may look for another mate