Charadrius vociferus
A. Wilson
Killdeer are medium-sized
birds that grow up to 11 inches long. They are mostly brown
with white underneath. Killdeer have two black bands across
their chests. They have black bills
and a red ring around their eyes. Killdeer are usually seen
in open country, such as fields,
shores, marshes,
and golf courses. They can be found in our area
year-round. Killdeer breed
in the Spring. Males are very territorial
and will chase other males away. Nests are open areas on
the ground; sometimes Killdeer lay some grass on it. Besides
natural fields, these birds will nest on golf courses,
lawns, beaches, rooftops, and even parking lots. Out West 2003 Copyright, Mike
Danzenbaker Killdeer eggs
are light brown with spots. They camouflage
very well with the ground. Both parents incubate
the eggs. Young killdeer hatch from
their eggs in about a month. They can run as soon as their
wings are dry, and will continue to run after their parents
for about a month, until they can fly. Sometimes the female
starts a new nest while the male guards the first
chicks. Killdeer usually keep the
same mates every year. When it's not breeding season, these
birds sometimes form small flocks.
Global Air Photos, http://www.huntington.edu/thornhill/checklists/commonbirds.htm
Killdeer eat many
insects
(aquatic
and terrestrial)
including: grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars,
ants, mosquito larvae,
caddis flies, dragonflies, and true bugs. Other foods
include: spiders, ticks, snails, earthworms, centipedes,
crayfish, and some weed
seeds. They grab their food from the ground, shallow water,
and low plants. Killdeer bob their heads as they walk back
and forth searching for food. Killdeer often act as an
alarm system for other animals. They have a loud, piercing
call. Copyright, D.
Chalfant Copyright, Tanya Dewey,
University of Michigan Nest predators
of Killdeer include Virginia Opossum, skunks, Raccoon,
foxes, Eastern Chipmunk, mice, and cats. People, horses, and
cattle sometimes step on eggs since they are camouflaged on
the ground. Killdeer will try to draw
predators away from their nests by using a "broken wing
display." The killdeer fakes having an injury and runs
slowly so the predator will follow it. When the killdeer
gets the predator far enough away form its nest, it flys
away. Predators of adult
killdeer include hawks.
