Bronze-Winged Jacana
Metopidius indicus
About This Species
Found on floating vegetation such as lily pads and lotus leaves on freshwater wetlands across South and Southeast Asia, walking on its enormously elongated toes to distribute its weight. The bronze back, black underparts and pale blue frontal shield make it distinctive against green floating leaves. Most easily seen at wetland reserves during the breeding season, when males can be seen carrying chicks tucked under their wings.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- View from a hide, boardwalk or boat at a distance that does not cause birds to freeze or move off the vegetation mat, since flushed adults can abandon eggs or chicks.
- Wetland bird protection rules differ across its South and Southeast Asian range, from strictly protected reserve wetlands to more general wildlife law elsewhere, so follow local site guidance rather than assuming uniform protection.
- Staying on marked paths or boardwalks around wetland reserves is usually the best way to limit disturbance.
LCAvesCharadriiformesJacanidae
Seasonal Activity
174,172 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Jacanidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.