Return to the Aves Index

Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus

Class  

Birds

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Range  

They breed in summer from Alaska across Canada, south to Mexico and on some Caribbean Islands. In the winter, they can be found in southern British Columbia south through the western U.S., the Midwest and in the east from Massachusetts south to northern South America.

Habitat  

They live in fields, mudflats, pastures, sports fields, parking lots and golf courses.

Body Traits  

They are brown above and white below with two black bands around their neck and breast. Their faces have a black stripe between their eyes, a white stripe across their forehead, behind each eye and around their neck. The top of their tail is rusty colored. Males and females look alike.

Habits  

They pretend a wing is broken to lure predators away from their nest.

Diet  

They eat worms, snails, insects and seeds.

Reproduction  

Their nest is just a dent in the ground. The female lays 4-6 tan eggs with brown spots.


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