No, it's not a turducken! This 'six-legged bird' is actually a devoted father hiding his tiny chicks from danger

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A photographer has captured the beautiful moment a devoted father bird hides his chicks from danger - by bundling the tiny flock under his feathers.

The stunning snaps show a fluffy African Jacana scooping up his young after he senses danger - leaving just the youngsters' legs dangling out of his feathers.

They were taken by Jose Fragozo, from Johannesburg, South Africa, in Kruger National Park in his native country.

These stunning snaps show a fluffy African Jacana scooping up his young after he senses danger - leaving just the youngsters' legs dangling out of his feathers

Jose said: 'In the first image, the African Jacana and his three chicks play on water lily leaves.

'However, you can see the father sense danger and he protectively hides the chicks under his wings before waddling away from the scene.

'It was so funny. I've never seen anything like this before, it was so cute.

The first image shows the African Jacana and his three young chicks playing on water lily leaves in a pond

But when the father senses danger, he urges his young family to take shelter under his thick brown plummage

'He was such a caring father but was obviously a bit grumpy that his chicks had got themselves into danger again.'

The bird seems to significantly grow as his chicks find protection under him, but the adorable feathered siblings hang from their dad and their legs can be seen dangling just above the water.

Submerging into his feathers, the chicks seem well protected, and their brighter yellow tones become invisible to the predator that has seemingly made itself known to their father.

Submerging into his feathers, the chicks seem well protected, and their brighter yellow tones become invisible to the predator that has seemingly made itself known to their father

The bird can then move around knowing his offspring are safe - even if it does make it look like he has eight legs