Killdeer
The common and widespread Killdeer inhabits subarctic Canada south through the United States and Central America, as far as the northwestern coast of South America. Only the northern populations are migratory. Migratory populations tend to winter in areas with January minimum temperatures above 20 degrees in the West and not less than 40 degrees in the East, including the southern United States. They are among the earliest shorebirds to return to the northern breeding grounds in the spring, with the northward movement commencing as early as February.
Killdeer Range Map

Males arrive before females, often to the same area each year, and begin establishing their territories noisily. The "killdeeah" call is well known, and they also give a rapid series of short notes in aggressive encounters or in alarm. They may advertise from the ground or perform an aerial display, hovering or circling with the slow stiff wingbeats of the "butterfly flight" while calling. Both males and females perform a display on the ground where they kick at the soil while holding their necks forward and tipping the entire body forward. They form small scrapes during this display and eventually choose one of them for a nest site.

The nest scrape is usually five to seven inches across and about an inch deep. It may be used unembellished, or with a few pebbles or bits of plant material added in. The female lays four cryptically patterned eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 24 days. Killdeer attempt to lead intruders away with a convincing "broken wing" display, dragging one wing and limping while crying piteously. The young are able to fly at about 25 days. If there are two broods as is common, the male guards the first brood while the female hatches the second set of eggs. Killdeer chicks are able to stand and run immediately after hatching. They typically leave the nest the first day and never return. The parents guard and brood them away from the nest site, but the chicks feed themselves from the beginning.

Killdeer may nest in the short grass of pastures, golf courses or airports, or on barren ground such as sandbars, gravel roads, and parking areas. Occasionally they will nest on a rooftop. Although nest sites are often away from water, after the breeding season Killdeer usually move to waterside areas such as freshwater beaches and marine estuaries. On mudflats, Killdeer usually forage away from the water's edge. Like other plovers, they run rapidly for short distances and then stand still or quickly snap up prey when foraging. Sometimes they vibrate a foot to stimulate the movement of prey. They consume mainly insects. Killdeer are not as social as many shorebirds, but sometimes form small flocks. The fall migration season extends from July to November.

Description: Killdeer are medium-sized shorebirds with long tails and pointed wings. The bill is black, short, and for a plover, relatively slender. Upper parts are brown and separated from the brown crown by a white collar. Underparts are white with two prominent black bands across the chest. The neck and throat are also white and the head is patterned with white and black. The legs are pinkish- or yellowish-gray.

Killdeer are the only North American shorebirds with two black breast bands. They also have a bright rufous orange rump and upper tail and prominent white stripes running the length of the wing, making the Killdeer easy to identify. The downy young have a single breast band until they are about the size of a Semipalmated Plover (C. semipalmatus), with which they might be confused. The young Killdeer is distinguished by its long black tail with down protruding beyond the rest of the tail, and by the gray rather than yellow legs.


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