The Bronze-Winged Jacana Is the Queen of the Wetlands

 The bronze-winged jacana Metopidius indicus is a charming bird found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and marshes, gracefully navigating the delicate world of floating vegetation. It has incredibly long toes. These elongated toes act like snowshoes, distributing the bird's weight evenly across lily pads and preventing it from sinking into the muck. This adaptation allows the jacana to forage effortlessly among aquatic plants, searching for insects, snails, and small fish.

Bronze-winged jacanas exhibit a fascinating social system known as polyandry. Females are larger and dominant, maintaining territories and a harem of up to four males during the breeding season. These males compete for the female's favour, building nests and displaying elaborate courtship dances. Interestingly, the chosen male incubates the eggs and cares for the chicks, while the female moves on to the next suitor in her harem.