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Crab Plover | Dromas ardeola
The Crab Plover is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Dromadidae bird family group which includes birds such as Albatrosses. The description for the Crab Plover (Latin name Dromas ardeola) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Dromas ardeola can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 296 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 419. You will find a picture of the Crab Plover on page 385. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Crab Plover between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Crab Plover has a height of 36 cms and weighs around 325 gms. The head is coloured white while the bill is coloured black. The Dromas ardeola has a white coloured throat, blue, grey legs and a black, white coloured back. The eyes are brown. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is white Eyes are brown Bill is black Legs are blue, grey Throat is white Back is black, white This bird has long legs ? ie legs the length of which are out of proportion to the bird's body size. This can be a useful identification guide (eg with the Lapwings). Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the ground This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water. This bird is a noctunal feeder and is able to forage in the dark because of the enhanced night vision. It also forages at this time because that?s when the prey comes out in the open. This bird is a well known scavenger and rarely kills its own prey. This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The bird builts its nest in a hole in the ground. You can see the Crab Plover bird on coastal regions and on the sea shore where the bird will be foraging with other birds Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ... |
