Egyptian plover

The Egyptian plover, often called the crocodile bird, is a captivating wader and the sole species in the genus Pluvianus. Although it was previously classified with pratincoles and coursers in the Glareolidae family, it is now recognized in its own family, Pluvianidae.

This bird is quite striking in appearance. It features a black crown, back, and eye-mask, complemented by a black breast band. The rest of its head is white, its upper parts are blue-grey, and its underparts are a vivid orange. When in flight, its black and white markings become even more dazzling, with brilliant white flight feathers accented by a black bar.

The Egyptian plover resides in tropical sub-Saharan Africa, where it breeds on sandbars in large rivers. It is commonly seen in pairs or small groups near water, foraging for insects. Its call is a distinctive high-pitched "krrr-krrr-krrr."

When it comes to breeding, the Egyptian plover employs a unique strategy. Instead of incubating its two or three eggs conventionally, it buries them in warm sand. To regulate the temperature, the bird sits on the eggs with a water-soaked belly. Once hatched, the chicks are precocial, able to run and feed themselves almost immediately. If danger threatens, adult plovers cool the chicks and temporarily bury them in the sand for protection.

An intriguing yet contested tale exists about the Egyptian plover's interaction with crocodiles. Ancient historian Herodotus reported that a bird, which he called the "trochilus" would enter a crocodile's mouth to clean its teeth by consuming decaying meat. While some believe this bird might be the Egyptian plover, there is no photographic evidence, and many biologists, including Thomas Howell, are skeptical about the truth of these accounts.