Crab Plover

Dromas ardeola

The Crab Plover is a distinctive seabird with a unique appearance. It has a black-and-white plumage, long legs, and a thick, slightly curved bill. This species is known for its specialized feeding behavior, using its bill to extract and consume small crabs from coastal mudflats. Crab Plovers are highly social birds, nesting in colonies on sandy or shelly beaches. They are found in coastal areas of the Indian Ocean and are known for their long-distance migrations. The global population of Crab Plovers is relatively small and facing threats from habitat loss and disturbance, making them a species of conservation concern.

Habitat: Coastal mudflats and sandy/shelly beaches

Crab Plover
© AL BADUSH · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

Andaman Fixed Departure Birding Tour
Andaman Fixed Departure Birding Tour
India / Port Blair Group tour 7 days | 0h

Port Blair - Shoal Bay - Chidiya Tapu - Mount Harriet National Park - Port Blair - Kolkata...

From 0.00 USD Next: 2026-11-07
20-Day Rajasthan & Gujarat Birding Tour with Nikhil Devasar
20-Day Rajasthan & Gujarat Birding Tour with Nikhil Devasar
India / New Delhi Custom tour 20 days | 0h

A birdwatching tour covering Rajasthan & Gujarat...

From 0.00 USD
17-Day Western India Birding Tour with Nikhil Devasar
17-Day Western India Birding Tour with Nikhil Devasar
India / Mumbai Custom tour 17 days | 0h

A specialist Western India Birding Tour itinerary from Bird Tour India....

From 0.00 USD
14-Day Gujarat Birdwatching Tour with Nikhil Devasar
14-Day Gujarat Birdwatching Tour with Nikhil Devasar
India / Ahmedabad Custom tour 14 days | 0h

A specialist Gujarat Birdwatching Tour itinerary from Bird Tour India....

From 0.00 USD
Private Cousin Island Special Reserve Birding with Steve Agricole
Private Cousin Island Special Reserve Birding with Steve Agricole
Seychelles / Cousin Island Private tour 1 day | 0h

A private Cousin Island Special Reserve birding visit focused on endemic conservation success stories and coastal or seabird species....

From 0.00 EUR
Gujarat Birding and Wildlife Tour
Gujarat Birding and Wildlife Tour
India / Bhuj Private tour 14 days | 0h

Ahmedabad - Velavadar - Gir National Park - Jamnagar - Great Rann of Kutch - Little Rann of Kutch - Ahmedabad...

From 0.00 USD
Andaman Birding Tour
Andaman Birding Tour
India / Port Blair Private tour 6 days | 0h

Kolkata - Port Blair - Shoal Bay - Chidiya Tapu - Mount Harriet National Park - Port Blair - Kolkata...

From 0.00 USD
Andaman Islands Short Birding Tours
Andaman Islands Short Birding Tours
India / Port Blair Private tour 5 days | 0h

Port Blair - Shoal Bay - Chidiya Tapu - Mount Harriet National Park...

From 0.00 USD
Fixed Departure Gujarat Birding and Wildlife Tour
Fixed Departure Gujarat Birding and Wildlife Tour
India / Bhuj Group tour 14 days | 0h

Ahmedabad - Velavadar - Gir National Park - Jamnagar - Great Rann of Kutch - Little Rann of Kutch - Ahmedabad...

From 0.00 USD