Pluvianus aegyptius
Kitwitwi wa Misri (Swahili)

Habitat

Tropical lowland rivers with gravel and sandbars

Conservation status

Least concern.

Biology

This species is also known as the “crocodile bird” because, according to the Greek historian Herodotus, it flies into the open mouths of resting crocodiles to feed on parasitic leeches. This story was further embellished by the nineteenth century zoologist Alfred Brehm, who claimed that the birds even warn crocodiles against danger. However, neither type of behaviour has ever been confirmed by observation in nature.