Metopidius indicus
The Bronze-winged Jacana, *Metopidius indicus*, is a striking, medium-sized wader native to the freshwater wetlands of South and Southeast Asia, typically measuring 28-31 cm (11-12 in) in length and weighing between 150-200 grams (5.3-7.1 oz). Adults are instantly recognizable by their glossy, iridescent bronze-green wings and upperparts, contrasting sharply with a dark, almost black head, neck, and breast, and deep chestnut underparts. A prominent white supercilium, extending from the bill t...
Primarily inhabits freshwater wetlands, including marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, characterized by abundant floating aquatic vegetation such as water lilies, lotus, and water hyacinth, typically in lowland regions up to 1000 meters elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of aquatic insects, their larvae, and other invertebrates found on or near water surfaces, supplemented with small amounts of seeds and other plant material.
The Bronze-winged Jacana is a diurnal bird, actively foraging and attending to nests throughout the day, typically roosting solitarily or in small groups within dense vegetation at night. Foraging involves a distinctive "lily-trotting" walk across floating leaves, picking insects, larvae, and see...
The Bronze-winged Jacana is a widespread resident breeder found throughout the Oriental region. Its primary range extends from the Indian subcontinent, encompassing India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh, eastward across Southeast Asia. This includes Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, P...
Least Concern
- The Bronze-winged Jacana is one of the few bird species where the female is larger and more brightly colored than the male, and she actively defends territories. - They exhibit a rare breeding system called polyandry, where one female mates with multiple males, and each male is responsible for ...