Breeding Behavior and Food Habits of the Wattled Jacana

Abstract

Behavior of wattled jacanas [Jacana jacana] associated with territoriality, courtship, nest building, incubation and feeding is described for the 1st time. The usual roles of the sexes are nearly reversed. Females defend a large territory, select the nest site, and participate in the initial stages of nest building. Males do not defend territories, but do most of the nest building and all of the incubation. Mate and site fidelity are strong. Females are sexually dimorphic in 7 of 9 physical dimensions and in diet, but not in methods of foraging. Wattled jacanas breeding on lawns are serially monogamous, those on rice fields, polyandrous. The results are discussed with respect to various selective forces operating on rapid multi-clutch breeding systems. Serial monogamy may be characteristic of species breeding in simple habitats who have strong fidelity to mates, and to a large territory with abundant resources, and are subjected to heavy predation pressures.