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Killdeer
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Common Name:
Killdeer
Class: Aves
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Charadriidae
Genus:
Charadrius
Species:
Charadrius vociferous
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photo
Ivan Andrijevic |
Taxonomy/Description
Killdeer are members of the Order Charadriiformes,
containing shore birds ranging from sandpipers to gulls
to puffins. Within the Family Charadriidae we
find the Killdeer’s closest relatives, the Black-bellied
and Semipalmated Plovers.
Killdeer are medium-sized birds 23-28 cm (9-11”) in
length, and adults weight between 76–122g (2.7-4.3oz.).
Killdeer have a wingspan of approximately 45-49cm
(18-19”), and are a white-bellied, brown-backed bird
with a black beak. It is identifiable by the two black
lines around its neck, and in flight identified by a
golden orange rump, a longer tail, and a white stripe
across the wing. They have medium sized legs adept at
terrestrial locomotion, as they are ground-foraging
birds
photo Melissa Grippin
Habitat/Diet
Killdeer, while classified as shorebirds, are often
found away from shorelines as well. They prefer open
areas with short vegetation, such as heavily grazed
pastures, sandbars, mudflats, and man-made environments
such as gravel or stone driveways, golf courses, and
graveled rooftops. Killdeer usually feed upon
earthworms, grasshoppers, beetles, snails, and other
terrestrial invertebrates. It finds them by running a
short distance, stopping, and running again to disturb
the prey and catch it. It also has been observed to pat
the ground with one foot to force out prey, and will
prod mud as well. In rare cases, they have been known to
eat small vertebrates such as minnows and occasionally
ingest seeds.
Behavior/Reproduction
A
Killdeer in the wild will move with quick bursts of
speed for a short distance, followed by a head bob, and
then will run again. Another interesting behavior is the
broken wing display, which is used to lure potential
predators away from their nests, convincing the predator
that the “hurt” bird will be the easier meal, and after
it has moved the threat a sufficient distance away, will
fly off and return to the nest, leaving behind a very
confused predator.
Killdeer usually form monogamous pair bonds that last
one year or more. Both males and females will work together to defend
territory, build nest, and raise young. The nest built
is a scrape nest, where both parents take turns making a
depression in the dirt, which then becomes the entire
nest. A typical clutch size contains four eggs, which
are laid once a year unless a nest failure occurs, in
which case they try again. Both sexes incubate the eggs,
which takes about 22-28 days, at the end of which the
chicks hatch synchronously, or all at the same time. The
chicks are born ready to forage for food by themselves,
the parents will simply lead them to food sites and
protect them. They
leave the nest after all the chicks have been hatched
and dried, and become independent after gaining the
ability to fly 20-31 days after hatching.
Where to see them in WNY
Killdeer are very common birds and can be found in
residential neighborhoods, parking lots, golf courses,
and other open areas will extremely short vegetation
during the summer.
Specific locations to see Killdeer are sites such as the
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and Tift Nature
Preserve.
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