Approach a Jacana closely and it is likely to remain so still that, in spite of its brilliant coloring, it may be very difficult to see. A Jacana usually lays four shiny eggs, dark brown and streaked with black; these benefit from a kind of waterproofing, a useful quality because they are often submerged, the nest being a loosely floating mass of vegetation which is easily swamped.
Three geographical races of the American Jacana occur in the West Indies and in the territory stretching south from /Mexico to Panama, each race having a black head and a bright yellow frontal shield above the bill similar to that of the Coots. Also distinctive are the wing spurs, one of which is just visible in the illustration. These spurs, present in only a few other bird groups, are efficient fighting weapons.
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