Bahrain, Bangladesh, British Indian Ocean Territory, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran [Islamic Republic of] (B) (NB), Iraq (B) (NB), Kenya, Kuwait (NB), Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Oman (B) (NB), Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (B) (NB) (P), Seychelles, Somalia (B), South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania [United Republic of], Thailand, United Arab Emirates (B) (NB) (P), Yemen (NB) (P).
Vagrant to Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey.
Population
Estimated population is 60,000 - 80,000 (2010).
Status LC
Destruction of nesting site habitat due to planting of mangroves, is the main threat. Predation, oil spills and egg collection are also possible threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola) [XC209916]
by Guido O. Keijl from Djibouti Region; Camp Lemonnier, 5.5 km SE Djibouti, Oman (call)
Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola) [XC732832]
by Frank Lambert from Nahud, Al Birk mangroves, Aseer Province, Saudi Arabia (call, flight call)
Nest
An unlined chamber at the end of a burrow 100-250 cm long, excavated into the sandy substrate of an island or extensive coastal dune system. In colonies.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet