Jacanidae Jacanas

Jacanas are the water-striders of the bird world. Though they cannot walk on water, their exceedingly long slender toes, extended by long splint-like nails, allow them to walk on very flimsy floating vegetation. Far more vocal than their near relatives, they spend much of their time far from cover, flying readily whenever danger threatens. As in many families in this order, their polyandrous mating system leaves the males doing all the parental care. The precocial young are capable of feeding themselves from the start, so the father is left watching over them and offering his wings for shelter if danger arrives. With such a precious cargo beneath his wings, he cannot fly away, but parental discretion and anticipation usually allow him to deliver his brood on foot to safety.