Killdeer are known and get their name from their 'broken-wing act' which they use to distract predators from their nests. This involves the bird walking away from its nesting area holding its wing in a position that simulates an injury and then flapping around on the ground emitting a distress call. The predators then think they have easy prey and are attracted to this seemingly injured bird and away from the nest. If the parent sees that a potential predator is not following them, they will move closer and get louder until they get the attention of the predator.
Their breeding habitat is open fields or lawns, often quite far from water, across most of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with isolated populations in Costa Rica and Peru.They nest on the ground in an open area with a clear line of sight, or on a gravel roof. They are migratory in northern areas and winter as far south as northern South America.
We saw this bathing Killdeer at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida last week. The little guy kept bobbing his butt up and down, creating circles in the water. It was the cutest thing! :) For more Killdeer cuteness see our Birdorable Killdeer. Read more »
In the world of birds, few spectacles are as endearing and fascinating as observing a Killdeer adult guiding its fluffy, energetic chicks on their first explorations of the world. The Killdeer, a member of the plover family, is not just admired for its striking appearance and spirited... Read more »
The birds in the image below have a lot in common, but one of them doesn't really belong. Can you pick out the species that doesn't go with the others, and tell us what the others have in common? There can be more than one correct answer, so... Read more »
