Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Jacanidae — Jacanas

Northern Jacana, Jacana spinosa, is a resident breeder in Middle America, from inland southern Sinaloa and central Tamaulipas in northern Mexico to western Panama, with Cozumel, Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola also within its breeding range. It is a jacana in the family Jacanidae and an order Charadriiformes wader. Its most distinctive feature is its huge feet and claws, which let it move across floating plants in shallow lakes. In Jamaica it is called the Jesus bird because it seems to walk on water.

Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Jacanidae — Jacanas
Breeding range
Middle America: inland s Sinaloa and c Tamaulipas (n Mexico; rarely s Texas, where formerly bred) to w Panama and including Cozumel (Mexico); and Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola
Northern Jacana
© Cephas · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

13 tours in Mexico 11, Costa Rica 1, Belize 1

Costa Rica Escape Part II: Caribbean Foothills and Wetlands
Costa Rica Escape Part II: Caribbean Foothills and Wetlands
Costa Rica / San José Group tour 9 days

A nine-day Costa Rica birding journey through Arenal, northern border wetlands and Tenorio foothill forest, with boat excursions and targets...

From USD 5,960 Next: Feb 21, 2027
8-Day Belize Birding and Culture Tour
8-Day Belize Birding and Culture Tour
Belize / Crooked Tree Group tour 8 days

An eight-day small-group journey through Belize combining wetland and rainforest birding with Maya sites, local food traditions and comforta...

From USD 2,950 Next: Dec 9, 2026
Laguna Quelele and Rio Ameca Birding Trip
Laguna Quelele and Rio Ameca Birding Trip
Mexico / Nuevo Nayarit Private tour 7h

A birding trip to Laguna Quelele and the Rio Ameca mouth, one of Banderas Bay's strong wetland birding areas....

From MXN 3,505
San Blas Birding Overnight
San Blas Birding Overnight
Mexico / San Blas Private tour 2 days

Use two field days to explore San Blas birding habitats with Luis Morales, combining an extended first session with a second morning and ear...

From MXN 5,480
San Blas Birding Day Trip
San Blas Birding Day Trip
Mexico / San Blas Private tour 11h

A full-day birding trip to the San Blas area, exploring a highly diverse Pacific coast birding landscape with boat and land components....

From MXN 3,900
Birding San Pancho Sunset
Birding San Pancho Sunset
Mexico / San Pancho Private tour 2.5h

A late-afternoon San Pancho birding outing to enjoy tropical birds and their habitats, ending around sunset....

From MXN 950
San Pancho Morning Short Birding 2.5h
San Pancho Morning Short Birding 2.5h
Mexico / San Pancho Private tour 2.5h

An easy-paced early morning San Pancho birding option for tropical birds and local habitats when time is limited....

From MXN 950
San Pancho Morning Special Birding 4.5h
San Pancho Morning Special Birding 4.5h
Mexico / San Pancho Private tour 4.5h

A special San Pancho morning birding outing with breakfast buffet, combining tropical and migratory birds with natural history and local hab...

From MXN 2,100
Birding San Pancho Morning Classic 4.5h
Birding San Pancho Morning Classic 4.5h
Mexico / San Pancho Private tour 4.5h

A classic San Pancho morning birding walk for beginner and advanced birders, focused on tropical and migratory birds in the area's mosaic of...

From MXN 1,800
12-Day Yucatan Peninsula Birding Tour
12-Day Yucatan Peninsula Birding Tour
Mexico / Cancun Group tour 12 days

A 12-day Yucatan birding tour exploring the peninsula, southern forests near the Guatemala and Belize borders, Rio Lagartos, Calakmul and Co...

9-Day Yucatan Peninsula Birding Trip
9-Day Yucatan Peninsula Birding Trip
Mexico / Cancun Group tour 9 days

A 9-day Yucatan Peninsula birding trip covering Puerto Morelos, Valladolid, Rio Lagartos, Merida, Campeche, Calakmul, Bacalar and Cozumel....

Classic 9-Day Yucatan Birding Route
Classic 9-Day Yucatan Birding Route
Mexico / Cancun Group tour 9 days

A relaxed 9-day Yucatan Peninsula birding route through Cancun, Cozumel, Rio Lagartos, Valladolid, Coba, Muyil and Felipe Carrillo Puerto....

Coba Birding Tour with Lagoon and Ruins
Coba Birding Tour with Lagoon and Ruins
Mexico / Coba Private tour 1 day

A birdwatching tour around Coba combining secondary forest, lagoon habitat and the Coba archaeological zone....