Image: Bronze-winged jacana (Metopidius indicus) immature composite

Description: Bronze-winged jacana (Metopidius indicus) immature, Chambal River, Uttar Pradesh, India. A composite of 8 images shot over 30 seconds in a sequence showing the bird deal with a grasshopper. Many bird species, particularly those in captivity and those eating human food, dunk food in water, often to soften it. Adult birds have also been observed dunking insects in water to moisten them when feeding their young. One possible explanation for this particular behaviour (which may be new to science) is that the immature bird is mimicking its parent's behaviour, although jacanas are precocial. Another possible explanation comes from the knowledge that this bird lives on the banks of the Chambal River and has to feed on land at this time of year. Jacanas usually feed in standing water and move around on lily pads (hence the nickname of Jesus birds as they appear to walk on water) catching insects which are much more likely to be wet. The bird is unlikely to be trying to drown the grasshopper. It doesn't hold it under water. The grasshopper is still alive as it has moved between images 5 and 6. I have also uploaded eight Individual images (3184 x 3184 pixels) onto Commons.
Title: Bronze-winged jacana (Metopidius indicus) immature composite
Credit: Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography.co.uk
Author: Charles J. Sharp
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Attribution Required?: Yes