Behaviour This species is largely sedentary (Urban et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996). It nests in solitary territorial pairs (Urban et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996), the timing of breeding corresponding to peaks in water-level (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Habitat The species occurs in forest and wooded savanna along permanent streams (del Hoyo et al. 1996) with thick growths of Syzygium guineese, along secluded reaches of thickly wooded rivers (Urban et al. 1986), on the edges of pools, lakes and dams with well-vegetated banks (particularly with reeds and overhanging branches) (Urban et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996), on the edges of dense papyrus beds far from the shore (Urban et al. 1986), in mangrove swamps (Urban et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996), creeks (Urban et al. 1986) and in flooded forest (del Hoyo et al. 1996). It is rarely found away from shoreline vegetation and generally avoids stagnant or fast-flowing water (Urban et al. 1986). Diet Its diet consists predominantly of invertebrates such as adult and larval insects (e.g. Ephemeropta, Odonata, Coleoptera and Orthoptera), spiders, millipedes, crustaceans (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (e.g. crabs, shrimps and prawns) (Urban et al. 1986), small snails, frogs, small fish (del Hoyo et al. 1996), snakes (Hockey et al. 2005) and occasionally vegetation (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Breeding site The nest is a flat, loose structure of reeds and twigs (Urban et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996) placed 1-4 m high over water either on a mass of flood debris or fallen branches (del Hoyo et al. 1996), on an overhanging tree limb or on a horizontal branch (Urban et al. 1986).