Primarily a summer breeding visitor with the first bird, arriving in February and most departing by November. However in proportion to its total numbers it is more regularly seen in the winter months than the Pheasant-tailed Jacana, so it might be a resident. It is shyer than that species, often hiding in vegetation, so it could easily be overlooked.

It is usually seen in very small numbers (four or five at a site) with eight being the maximum report-ed in recent years. It is much less associated with the invasive water hyacinth than its commoner relative, instead preferring lotus beds and other native surface vegetation. Unlike the Pheasant-tailed, this jacana does not have a non-breeding plumage. The juvenile however looks quite different from the adult and can be confused with a Pheasant-tailed Jacana in juvenile or non-breeding plumage. Being very dark, the adult might be overlooked as a Common Moorhen. It is relatively quiet but does make a high-pitched “keek keek keek” when breeding