Crab Plover (Dromadidae)

Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola) - HBW 3, p. 307

French: Drome ardéole German: Reiherläufer Spanish: Dromas

Taxonomy: Dromas Ardeola Paykull, 1805, India.
Relationships uncertain; perhaps closest to Burhinidae and Glareolidae, but frequently awarded separate superfamily on its own, mainly on grounds of plumage of downy chicks; sometimes considered related to Laridae, or to Alcidae because of burrow-nesting habits. Monotypic.

Distribution: Coasts of Indian Ocean. Breeds on shores of NW Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Red Sea. Non-breeders regularly range S to Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar, and E to W India, N Sri Lanka and Andaman Is; also small numbers to NE South Africa, and to single site in SW Thailand.