Habitat
Coastal regions and semiarid cliff habitat near estuaries, mangrove swamps, along beaches, in rice paddies and deep inside subterranean sea caves. Usually in groups of 2 - 5.
Food
Semi-terrestrial crustaceans, small crabs and marine insects that reproduce in beach-stranded kelp. Also jellyfish, starfish, marine and freshwater snails, cactus fruit, termites, ants and the larvae of cave insects.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
BirdLife International Species Factsheet