1. A group of wading birds in the family Jacanidae, usually having long toes and claws and found throughout the world.

1. any of several wading birds belonging to the genus jacana and several allied genera, all of which have spurs on the wings. they are able to run about over floating water weeds by means of their very long, spreading toes. called also surgeon bird.

1. A bird of the genus Parra or jacana, as P. jacana or J. spinosa; the book-name of any bird of the family Parridæ or Jacanidæ.
2. there are several genera and species, of both the old and the new world. these remarkable birds resemble plovers and rails, but are most nearly related to the former. in the typical american forms the tail is short, and the legs and toes are long, with enormous straight claws which enable the birds to run easily over the floating leaves of aquatic plants. there is a horny spur on the bend of the wing, and a naked frontal leaf and wattles at the base of the bill. Parra gymnostoma is the mexican jacana, which is also found in the united states. the pheasant-tailed jacana of india, Hydrophasianus chirurgus, has no frontal or rictal lobes, and has a very long tail like a pheasant. the indo-african jacanas belong to the genus Metopodius; that of the east indies is Hydralector cristatus.
3. [capitalized] [nl.] A genus of jacanas, the same as Parra, lately made the name-giving genus of Jacanidæ. Brisson, 1760. also written Iacana.