One of the most characteristic and unmistakable birds of the Iberá. Bright reddish-chestnut plumage on the body with a black head and neck and wings tipped yellow and green. The bill and frontal shield are bright orange-yellow. Its most striking feature is its toes: enormous, with long straight claws that spread its weight to the extreme, allowing it to walk over the floating leaves of giant water lilies and water hyacinths just 1 cm thick. It measures 23 to 28 cm.
Behaviour
Reversed matriarchy: the female holds a territory with several males who incubate the eggs and care for the chicks alone. When there is danger, the male tucks the chicks under his wings and carries them off, only the dangling legs visible. An omnivore of the water hyacinth beds.
How and when to see it
Year round. Very easy to see on any water hyacinth bed from the boats. One of the most photographed birds in the Iberá.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where wattled jacana has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where wattled jacana lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiencias con relato local y mirada cultural sobre los esteros.★ 5.0 - Gaucho Argentino
Travesías a caballo por una red de refugios en el Iberá. Cabalgatas de varios días con…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Senderismo guiado. Visita guiada a museos, lugares históricos, capillas y senderos del…★ 5.0 - Salvaje Iberá
Senderismo, cicloturismo, safari fotográfico, avistaje de fauna, paseos largos en el día…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameWattled Jacana
- Scientific nameJacana jacana
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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