The Egyptian plover, also known as the crocodile bird, is a wader, the only member of the genus Pluvianus. It occurs in a band across Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east and south to parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It no longer occurs in Egypt. The species was formerly placed with the pratincoles and coursers in the family, Glareolidae, but is now regarded as the sole member of its own monotypic family Pluvianidae.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa (Sahel to Upper Nile)
Typical Environment
Prefers wide, lowland rivers with open, sandy banks and islands. It is most often found on exposed sandbars, shorelines, and sparsely vegetated river margins, avoiding rocky coasts and dense riparian thickets. Breeding occurs on bare sand where it scrapes shallow nests, relying on river level changes to expose suitable sites. After floods, it follows receding waters to newly exposed bars and beaches. It is closely tied to large river systems such as the Senegal, Niger, Benue, Nile, and their tributaries.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the crocodile bird, it is the sole member of the family Pluvianidae. The famous story that it cleans crocodiles’ teeth is a long-standing myth with no reliable evidence. It nests on open sandbars and uniquely cools its buried eggs by wetting its belly feathers and transferring water to the nest. The species no longer occurs in Egypt despite its name.
A characteristic pair feeding on the shoreline, The Gambia
Temperament
alert but fairly approachable along rivers
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over water
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family parties on sandbars. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing, including shading and cooling the eggs. Nests are shallow scrapes in open sand, and adults may move eggs or chicks short distances to manage temperature and safety.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Generally quiet; gives clear, piping whistles and soft, chittering contact calls. Alarm notes are sharper and more insistent when intruders approach the nest.
