The Jacanas have long-legs. This is the unique feature among the birds. They are known as marsh birds. They belong to the tropical waders group and in the Jacanidae family group. The bird species are found almost everywhere in the world. However, their favorite niche is in the tropical zone. Mostly, they inhabit freshwater ponds, swamps, and the margins of lakes as well as the lagoons. In these areas, the birds feed on insects, seeds from the aquatic plants and the small mollusks.

They have eight species. This are placed within the six genera. Commonly, the breed is found in New as well as the Old World tropics. Two species exist in America. There are three species found within Africa. Some other three species are found in Far East of Australia. There are nine subspecies found in Central America as well as three subspecies in Australia. The bird species are mostly sedentary.

In spotting them, the Jacanas can easily be identified. They have huge feet as well as claws. This adaptive feature enables their walking smooth especially when floating on the vegetation. This is within the shallow lakes. It is presumed as the main habitat of preference for the respective bird species. They birds resemble mostly the moorhen as well as the rails which are common within these regions.

These birds have a sharp spur right on their elbow of the respective wing. It is also an adaptive feature because it allows them to fight. It is generally a kind of a fighting weapon. The wing is strong enough and has sharp blades for appropriate defense mechanism. The distinguishing feature for this bird species is the long toes. These are the longest toes known for any bird existing on earth. The same applies to the claws. They are very long and protruding. The respective claws are estimated at 7cm in length. When you combine the length and the size of the toe to tip distance, it is approximately 20cm.

The long claws are important to the bird because they can run faster over the floating vegetation. In the real sense, the birds seem like walking over the water. This has given them a popular name in the respective regions, the Jamaican where these birds are most common refer them to as 'Jesus birds.' The bird is rarely seen on land. They mostly thrive in the water bodies.

This bird species is somewhat different from the others. The females are larger when compared to the male. The coloration is however almost similar. Both the male and the female have some sort of dark brown color in the larger body. The wattle is yellow like in color. This is at the bill base of the bird. A greenish-yellow color appears on the wings as well as the extending feathers. These colors are conspicuous mostly during bird flight. In the incubation process, both males and females are involved. The adults of these birds might not be differentiated well because the look almost alike the same case with some similar birds.