Egyptian Plover

The Egyptian plover (Pluvianus aegyptius), also colloquially known as the crocodile bird, is a distinctive wader and the sole representative of its genus. This bird is not to be overlooked, with a striking appearance characterized by a black crown, back, eye-mask, and breast band. The head is adorned with white, while the upperparts are a blue-grey hue, and the underparts boast a vibrant orange. The legs, in keeping with the color scheme, are a matching blue-grey.

Identification Tips

Adult Egyptian plovers measure between 19 to 21 centimeters in length. In flight, they are particularly breathtaking, displaying a stark contrast between the black and grey of their upperparts and wings, and brilliant white flight feathers crossed by a black bar. From below, the flying bird is predominantly white, save for the orange belly and black wing bar. Upon alighting, pairs engage in an elaborate wing-raising ceremony, showcasing their black and white plumage. Both sexes appear similar, though juveniles are somewhat less vivid, with black markings tinged with brown.

Habitat

The Egyptian plover is a bird of tropical sub-Saharan Africa, favoring the sandbars of large rivers for its habitat.

Distribution

This species is a localized resident, not found in modern-day Egypt despite its name. Its range includes territories that were once part of the Egyptian state as defined in 1758, such as Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia.

Behaviour

Typically very tame, the Egyptian plover can be observed in pairs or small groups in proximity to water. It feeds by pecking for insects and emits a high-pitched "krrr-krrr-krrr" call. Its tameness often allows observers to approach more closely than may be wise.

Breeding

The breeding strategy of the Egyptian plover is quite unique. It does not incubate its two or three eggs in the traditional sense but instead buries them in warm sand. The adult regulates the temperature by sitting on the eggs with a water-soaked belly to cool them. When leaving the nest, the adult covers the eggs with sand, and in the event of a disturbance, this process may be rushed. The precocial chicks are capable of running immediately after hatching and can feed themselves shortly thereafter. Adults also use the water-soaking method to cool the chicks and may temporarily bury them in the sand as a protective measure.

Similar Species

There are no similar species, as the Egyptian plover is the only member of its genus.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Egyptian plover consists primarily of insects, which it picks from the ground near bodies of water.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Egyptian plover as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction.

Supposed relationship with crocodiles

The Egyptian plover is sometimes referred to as the crocodile bird due to a legendary symbiotic relationship with Nile crocodiles, where it was said to clean the reptiles' teeth. This behavior, often attributed to the "Trochilus" bird mentioned by Herodotus, has never been documented by modern evidence and remains a topic of myth rather than fact.