Crab-plover

Overview

The crab-plover (Dromas ardeola) is a coastal wader that is the sole member of the family Dromadidae. It is unique among waders for its specialised heavy bill, long legs, and the use of ground warmth to aid egg incubation.

Identification

• Pied plumage featuring a white body with a black back and primary feathers, resembling a pied avocet.
• Very long bluish-grey legs and a strong, heavy black bill that is unique among waders.
• Long-necked, upright posture with a distinctive appearance that is unmistakable in the field.
• Noisy calling habits, producing a rapid 'ka' similar to a bar-tailed godwit, whinnying flocks, and whistling 'kew-ki-ki' notes during the breeding season.

Habitat

Resident on the coasts and islands of the Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Somalia. It breeds in colonies on sandy banks and disperses across the Indian Ocean to regions as far as the Andaman Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Madagascar.

Diet

Feeds on crabs and other small animals, using a specialised bill for consuming crabs. Flocks are gregarious and feed in large groups, exhibiting crepuscular and nocturnal behaviour particularly during the breeding season.

Did you know?

This species uses ground warmth and solar radiation to incubate its eggs, allowing parents to leave the unattended nest for as long as 58 hours.