Crab-Plover

The crab-plover is a coastal wader, the only member of its genus and family. It is unique among waders in using ground warmth to help incubate its eggs. It resembles a plover but has very long bluish-grey legs and a strong, heavy black bill specialised for eating crabs. Its plumage is white with black on the back and primaries, and it stands upright on long legs. Juveniles have a grey mantle for about a year (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is noisy, calling often at breeding sites and wintering grounds, and flocks fly in lines or V formations. It is related to the pratincoles and coursers and to the gulls and terns rather than to true plovers. Nationally Critically Endangered (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).