Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

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A Field Guide to Eastern Birds. by Roger Tory Peterson.

Return to Eastern Plovers

Color Photographs: © Corel Corp.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Identification: Length from tip of bill to tip of tail 9 to 11 inches. Back and bases of the wings brown. Outer halves of wings black. Rear margin of wing with a broad, white band. Head with a brown crown, and dark brown band on the forehead, a white stripe over the eye, and a brown band below the eye stretching from the base of the bill to the back of the neck. Base of neck and breast with two dark brown bands. Underside white. Base of tail rusty orange.

Similar Species:  The Killdeer is easily identified by its inland habitat, the double bands on the breast and neck, and the rusty-orange base of the tail.

Breeding Range (see map below): The Killdeer is resident or breeds throughout almost all of North America except for northern Canada and Alaska. The species is also found in most of tropical America.

Overwintering Range:  See above.

Habitat: The Killdeer is found in open country including prairie, fields, and golf courses.

Food: Insects and spiders.

Behavior: The Killdeer is famous for faking injury to draw potential predators away from its nest. The call is a shrill killdee or killdeer. Unlike most plovers the Killdeer is a noisy and vociferous animal.

Reproduction:  The clutch consists of 4 light tan eggs spotted with blackish-brown. The eggs are laid in a shallow depression on the ground lined with grass.