Killdeer occur year-round along much of the Pacific Coast, lower elevations of the Rockies, and across the
southern united states
, then well into Mexico Wintering birds are found south to northern South America.
Why is it called a Killdeer bird?
Killdeer get their name from the shrill, wailing kill-deer call they give so often Eighteenth-century naturalists also noticed how noisy Killdeer are, giving them names such as the Chattering Plover and the Noisy Plover. Gravel rooftops attract Killdeer for nesting, but can be dangerous places to raise a brood.
What is special about a Killdeer?
A killdeer performs a broken-wing display While the impressive acting of the broken-wing display is useful to lure people, dogs, and other predators away from the eggs, the bird tries other maneuvers to keep the eggs from accidental trampling by hoofed animals.
Is a Killdeer a rare bird?
Widespread, common, and conspicuous , the Killdeer calls its name as it flies over farmland and other open country. Like other members of the plover family, this species is often found at the water’s edge, but it also lives in pastures and fields far from water.
What attracts Killdeer birds?
To attract them to your backyard, offer a protected gravel area where it can lay its eggs When something approaches its nest, the killdeer spreads its wings and tail, scolds and may even fly at it. If a potential predator comes very near, the bird tries to lure it away by playing wounded.
What month do Killdeer lay eggs?
This bird lays a clutch of four to six buff to beige eggs with dark markings. The breeding season (starting with egg-laying) occurs from mid-March to August , with later timing of egg-laying in the northern portion of the range. Both parents incubate the eggs for 22 to 28 days typically.
Where do Killdeer go for the winter?
Some northern birds spend the winter in Mexico In the southern United States and Pacific coast, Killdeer are year-round residents.
Do Killdeer birds mate for life?
Killdeers are generally monogamous. Even though they may not necessarily mate for life , mated pairs form close bonds and remain together for the
entire year
(even when not breeding), or for several years.
Do male and
female killdeer
look the same?
It has a a brown head with a
black band
between its eyes, white “eyebrows” and black bands around its upper chest. It has a sharp, black bill; long legs and a long tail. Males and females look the same.
How can you tell the difference between a male and a female Killdeer?
In flight, the Killdeer’s long, slender wings have conspicuous white wing stripes. Adults and juveniles look the same year round, but young,
downy chicks
have a single breast band. Both sexes have the same type of plumage, but the male is larger than the female.
What do you do if you find a baby Killdeer?
The best thing to do is to bring the chick back and search for the adults If you get anywhere near the rest of the family, one of the parents may give a broken-wing display, acting as if it’s injured. You should set the chick down and leave as quickly as possible.
Do Killdeer abandon their eggs?
If the nest has been abandoned, what shall I do with the eggs? Killdeer are devoted to sitting on their eggs even in the most terrible weather. But if the eggs were under water for more than a few minutes, they are no longer viable. They’ll probably abandon the nest and start another one later.
Where do Killdeer lay their eggs?
Killdeer typically lay their eggs on the ground, in a shallow depression surrounded by low vegetation Add a few stones, perhaps, and that’s about it. Because of the color of its plumage, the adult attending the nest blends right in, so much so that you would be hard pressed see it, even if you knew it was there.
Can you keep a Killdeer as a pet?
No, Killdeer do not make good pets Even though human activity does not currently threaten them, it is still illegal in most places to own, capture, harass, or kill one. The Migratory Bird Act, protects these and most birds in the United States, from harm.
Do Killdeer birds fly?
That’s what the killdeer chick at left is doing. Newly-hatched killdeer can’t fly , and they need their killdeer parents for protection and guidance, but they are a lot closer to independence than most baby birds.
What are the predators of a Killdeer?
Killdeer adults, chicks and eggs are vulnerable to predation by many different predators, including birds of prey, gulls, crows and ravens snakes, foxes, coyotes, domestic cats, domestic dogs, raccoons, skunks and Virginia opossums.
Does Killdeer fly at night?
To my ears there seemed to be quite a few of the birds flying past. Listen to a Killdeer calling inflight here. I did some checking and found that they do migrate during the night as well as during day so perhaps the birds I heard were winging their way north and were attracted by our city lights.
Does Killdeer return to same nest?
Although killdeer that stay year-round often mate for life, migratory ones do not. Still, the birds often nest in the same area each year.
Do Killdeer move their nests?
-JEAN LINSDALE, Berkeley, California, April 28, 1926. Moving the Nest of the Killdeer,Killdeer (Ozgechus vociferus) are quite common on our ranch near Buena Park, California , and have been the basis of some very inter- esting observations.
How many days does it take for a Killdeer egg to hatch?
The eggs are very large for the size of the parent bird. For example, although the killdeer and the robin are very nearly the same size, the killdeer’s egg is twice the size of a robin’s egg. It only takes the robin 13 days to hatch its egg, but the killdeer egg requires 26 days !.
Are Killdeer birds protected?
Although Killdeer, a species of plover that can be found along water and inland, are not endangered, they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) in the United States To move the nest would require the federal government’s permission.
What happens after Killdeer eggs hatch?
After the eggs hatch most parent birds protect and feed baby birds until the growing nestlings can regulate their body temperature, mature, and grow feathers Eventually, the day comes when a young bird takes a flying leap out of the nest or birdhouse. We observe this sequence with most songbirds nesting in our yards.
How do Killdeer protect their nests?
As long as the bird holds the attention of the danger, it moves away from the nest, constantly making noise and feigning that it is injured This helps attract the threat away from the nest. The abandonment of the nest leaves the eggs exposed, but they are camouflaged, so they are not easily seen by predators.
What is the lifespan of a killdeer bird?
The average lifespan of the killdeers is 3 to 5 years , however, killdeer birds have been recorded to live for as long as 10 years.
Does male killdeer sit on nest?
Killdeer eggs are blotchy and look like pebbles. Each egg is a bit pointed at one end, so that the four eggs fit neatly and help keep each other in place. Both the male and female killdeer sit on the eggs to incubate them They take turns.
Do Mother birds abandon their babies if humans touch them?
If you can find the nest (it may be well hidden), put the bird back as quickly as possible. Don’t worry—parent birds do not recognize their young by smell. They will not abandon a baby if it has been touched by humans” So leave the cute ones alone, and put the little ratty-looking ones back in the nest.
How often do Killdeer lay eggs?
Killdeer typically have one to three broods per year One clutch is typical for northernmost populations, while two or three are more common for birds nesting in the southern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
References
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/killdeer
https://www.shutterstock.com/search/killdeer