Bronze-winged Jacana
Metopidius indicus
The Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus) is a uncommon jacana found in 12 countries, weighing about 155 g. The bronze-winged jacana is a wader in the family Jacanidae.
About the Bronze-winged Jacana
The bronze-winged jacana is a wader in the family Jacanidae. It is found across South and Southeast Asia and is the sole species in the genus Metopidius. Like other jacanas it forages on lilies and other floating aquatic vegetation, using its long feet and legs for balance. The sexes are alike but females are slightly larger and are polyandrous, maintaining a harem of males during the breeding season in the monsoon rains. Males maintain territories, with one male in the harem chosen to incubate the eggs and take care of the young. When threatened, young chicks may be carried to safety by the male under his wings.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Bronze-winged jacanas are rail-like, large, short tailed birds that appear dark at a distance except for the supercilium. They are 29 cm (11 in) in length. The sexes are similar but the females are slightly larger than the males. The wings are bronzy brown with a green sheen and have a reduced tubercular carpal spur. The head, neck and breast are black and contrast with the broad white supercilium that runs from over the eye to the back of the neck. The lower back and tail coverts are chestnut. The tail is stubby and reddish brown with black terminal band.
What the Bronze-winged Jacana sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Pakistan.
When to see it
The Bronze-winged Jacana can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Bronze-winged Jacana?
- Bronze-winged jacanas are rail-like, large, short tailed birds that appear dark at a distance except for the supercilium. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Bronze-winged Jacana?
- The Bronze-winged Jacana is a medium sized bird weighing about 155 g.
- Where can you see a Bronze-winged Jacana?
- The Bronze-winged Jacana occurs in 12 countries, including India, Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh.
- What does a Bronze-winged Jacana sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Bronze-winged Jacana on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Bronze-winged Jacana?
- The Bronze-winged Jacana is most easily confused with the African Jacana, the Northern Jacana and the Pheasant-tailed Jacana.
- Is the Bronze-winged Jacana endangered?
- The Bronze-winged Jacana is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Bronze-winged Jacana for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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