Crab-plover

The Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola) is a distinctive bird belonging to its own family, Dromadidae, with uncertain relations within the Charadriiformes, displaying similarities to thick-knees, pratincoles, auks, and gulls. It is the sole member of its genus and notably uses the warmth of the ground to incubate its eggs—unusual for waders. Sporting a black and white plumage, a heavy, strong black bill suited for eating crabs, partially webbed toes, and long grey legs, it's an unmistakable sight. The sexes look similar though males have longer bills, while juveniles wear greyish black. Known for their noisy calls, crab-plovers fly in formation and are protected under the AEWA. Residing along Indian Ocean coasts and islands, they forage on crabs, often in large, social groups and exhibit crepuscular and nocturnal behavior, especially during breeding season. They breed from April to July in areas like the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, dispersing as far as Sri Lanka and Madagascar. Unique among waders, crab-plovers nest in burrows, laying one, occasionally two, large eggs in solar-heated sand, allowing parents to leave the nest for extensive periods. Chicks, unable to walk initially, receive prolonged parental care after hatching and even post-fledging.