These birds inhabit the coastal areas of Sri Lanka’s dry zone and sometimes venture inland to large tanks, avoiding the wet zone. They prefer sandy or muddy shores of lagoons, estuaries, and tanks, as well as the seashore. Often living in pairs, likely mating for life, small flocks form after breeding season. They feed mostly at night, resting and preening by the water during the day. Their diet includes insects, crabs, molluscs, and small animals. Breeding from January to August, they lay one or two eggs. The pair uses clever tactics to distract predators from their nest.