Crab Plover

Crab Plover
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Dromadidae Genus: Dromas Species: ardeola
Binomial name
Dromas ardeola

The Crab Plover Dromas ardeola is a bird related to the waders, but sufficiently distinctive to merit its own family Dromadidae .

It is resident on the coasts and islands of the Indian Ocean, where it feeds on crabs and other small animals.

This bird resembles a plover, but has very long grey legs and a strong sharp black bill similar to a tern. It has partially webbed toes.

The plumage is white except for black on its back and in the primary feathers of the wings.

It lays one white egg in a hole in a sandy bank

For an alternative classification of the Charadriiformes, see Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy