Crab-Plover

About the Crab-Plover

The crab-plover or crab plover (Dromas ardeola) is a coastal wader (shorebird). It is the only member of the genus Dromas and the family Dromadidae. It is unique among waders in making use of ground warmth to aid the incubation of its eggs. The crab-plover is classified in the suborder Lari in a group together with the Glareolidae (pratincoles and coursers), and next most closely related to the Laridae (gulls and terns), rather than to most other waders such as plovers (suborder Charadrii) and sandpipers (suborder Scolopaci).

This bird resembles a plover, but has very long bluish-grey legs and a strong heavy black bill. Its pied plumage and long-necked upright posture with heavy bill makes it distinctive and unmistakable; apart from the massive bill, the plumage pattern is most reminiscent of a pied avocet. Its bill is unique among waders, and specialised for eating crabs. It has partially webbed toes. The plumage is white except for black on its back and in the primary feathers of the wings; in breeding plumage, the head is white apart from the small black eye patch, while in non-breeding plumage, the head is streaked grey. They are noisy birds, calling frequently... Wikipedia →