Dromas ardeola
The Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola) is a strikingly distinctive shorebird, the sole member of the family Dromadidae, setting it apart taxonomically from other waders, though it is generally placed within the order Charadriiformes. This medium-sized bird measures approximately 33-36 cm (13-14 inches) in length with a wingspan of 66-70 cm (26-28 inches) and weighs 250-300 grams. Its plumage is unequivocally black and white: a pure white body, head, and neck contrast sharply with a black back, prim...
Exclusively coastal, inhabiting sandy beaches, mudflats, coral reefs, and rocky shores, primarily at sea level.
Primarily crabs, supplemented by other crustaceans, mollusks, and marine worms, obtained by probing and visual hunting in intertidal zones.
Crab-plovers exhibit a fascinating blend of diurnal roosting and predominantly nocturnal or crepuscular foraging, capitalizing on the low tide conditions. They are highly social, forming large, dense flocks outside the breeding season, sometimes numbering in the thousands. Foraging involves a dis...
The Crab-plover has a widespread but disjunct distribution across the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Its primary breeding grounds are found along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Yemen, extending to the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and E...
Least Concern
- The Crab-plover is the only shorebird in the world known to nest in burrows, digging tunnels up to 1.5 meters long. - Its heavy, dagger-like bill is uniquely adapted for crushing and dismembering hard-shelled crustaceans, especially crabs. - It is the sole species in the family Dromadidae, maki...