Killdeer

Definitely the most widely known shorebird in the U.S., the Killdeer is a member of the plover group and is familiar to most as the bird that runs around in parking lots or driveways.

Instead of living their lives along one of our coasts, the Killdeer has made it’s living in pastures and prairies following around large grazing mammals. Among its favorite foods are the dung beetles.

People with long gravel driveways have likely had to drive around one of their nests at some point. They really don’t make much of a nest, they simply lay their very well camouflaged eggs among a group of rocks. The eggs and young are quite defenseless of they have evolved an incredible survival adaptation. When a would be  predator gets too close to their nest or young ones, he or she droops one wing and runs along the ground to attract the predator toward her. Predators cannot resist this “broken wing” routine and come after her, she runs away from the nest or young then flies off at full speed when she feels like she has been successful in her protection duties. Unlike cardinals and other songbirds, Killdeer young emerge from their eggs covered in down feathers and able to walk, run and even feed themselves. The count on the adults to teach and protect them from weather and predators.

Males and females look pretty much the same with their deep brown and white overall coloration but it is their two chest bands and rufous rump that stand out for most folks. Their odd name has nothing to do with its diet, but rather comes from the loud “Kill-deer, kill-deer” call that they almost constantly give in flight.

Mark McKellar

Bird of the Week: July 1, 2019