These birds are typically associated with lakes, pools, ponds and canals with floating vegetation. They also forage on marshes, in swamps, and in slow-flowing rivers, grass-covered floodplains, water meadows and on flooded rice fields. It is carnivorous, feeding mainly on aquatic insects, maggot-like insect larvae, dragonfly nymphs, beetles, ants and small snails.The species is hunted and traded at traditional medicine markets in Nigeria