Crab-plover
A species of Crab-plovers Scientific name : Dromas ardeola Genus : Crab-plovers
Crab-plover, A species of Crab-plovers
Botanical name: Dromas ardeola
Genus: Crab-plovers
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Donald Macauley , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
This bird resembles a plover, but has very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. Its black-and-white plumage and long-necked upright posture with heavy bill makes it distinctive and unmistakable. 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. They are noisy birds, calling frequently on their breeding sites and in their wintering grounds. The usual call is a ka similar to that of the bar-tailed godwit but repeated rapidly. Flocks may produce a whinnying sound that rises and at in the breeding season produce whistling kew-ki-ki notes. Males and females are not easily distinguished but males have a heavier and longer bill. Juveniles have the black on the mantle, greyish and remain in this plumage for a year. Flocks fly in lines or "V" formations. The crab-plover is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. 
Size
41 cm
Feeding Habits
Crab-plover primarily feed on crabs, complemented by worms, bivalves, and occasionally fish. They exhibit unique foraging on mudflats, often at dusk or night, employing a mix of stalking, rapid movements, and static tactics to capture prey. Their bills have scopate tomia, aiding in crushing crustaceans. Juveniles may scavenge or be fed larger prey by adults. Crab-plover are also known to engage in kleptoparasitism.
Habitat
The habitat of crab-plover primarily includes sandy coastlines and islands, along with the adjacent intertidal zones like sandflats and mudflats. These birds are also a regular presence in estuaries and lagoons and can be found on exposed coral reefs and occasionally on rocky shorelines. They favor coastal environments across broad tropical and subtropical regions.
Dite type
Carnivorous
General Info
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Crab-plovers Genus
Crab-plovers Species
Crab-plover 
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