Killdeer

Killdeer
File:Killdeersideview.png
A Killdeer in Oklahoma.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Aequorlitornithes
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	{{{1}}}
Subfamily:	{{{1}}}
Genus:	{{{1}}}
Species:	C. vociferus
Binomial name
Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758
Subspecies
North American Killdeer, C. v. vociferus "Greater Antillean Killdeer", C. v. ternominatus "Peruvian Killdeer", C. v. peruvianus
Synonyms
Oxyechus vociferus Click for other names Other common names Chattering Plover, Field Plover, Killdee, Killdeer Plover, Noisy Plover, Pasturebird. French Pluvier kildir German Keilschwanz-Regenpfeifer Spanish Chorlitejo culirrojo KILL CHAVOC

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus is a species of plover in the Charadriinae subfamily. It is closely related to the Common Ringed Plover. There are three subspecies.

Taxonomy

The Killdeer is closely related to the Common Ringed Plover.

Click for etymology
Charadrius is from Late Latin charadrius yellowish bird mentioned in the Vulgate Bible (late 4th century) < Greek χαραδριος kharadrios unknown plain-coloured nocturnal bird that dwelt in ravines and river valleys < χαραδρα kharadra ravine; vociferus is from Latin vociferus clamorous, noisy < vociferari to shout < vox, vocis voice, cry, sound; ferre to bear.

Description

A Killdeer pair. The female is on the right and the male is on the left.

A Killdeer pair. The female is on the right and the male is on the left.

The Killdeer is a large plover, at 9–11 inches (23–28 cm). It is distinctively marked with two breast bands, young only have one band. Sexes similar, but female tends to have browner mask and breast bands.

Fairly long black tail, with a buffy-orange rump. The bill black and legs are flesh-coloured. The forehead, eye-stripe, collar on hindneck and underparts white. In flight, it shows a tawny rump.

Non-breeding adult has rufous and buffish brown fringes to upperparts. Juveniles are like dull non-breeding adults.

Race ternominatus smaller, paler and greyer; peruvianus also smaller than nominate, and has more extensive rufous feather fringes.

Similar species

File:Killdeerbackside.png

The back of a Killdeer, showing its black tail and brown back.

It is larger than the other ringed plovers, and easily distinguished by its two black bands.

Similar to Semipalmated Plover, but is larger and white below. A downy young Killdeer has one breast band and might be identified as a Wilson's Plovers by overeager birders.

Behaviour

Generally found in as scattered individuals or small groups. Seldom found in large flocks, but sometimes up to fifty. It is stable and has adapted well to human encroachment.

Diet

Insects, mainly beetles and flies, also grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, dragonflies, etc.; millipedes, worms, snails, spiders, crustaceans and some seeds.

Calls

File:Killdeerpair.png

The Killdeer is quite vocal. Calls include several strident nasal piping notes, such as “deee”, “tyeeee” or “kil-deee” (hence its name), repeated. When it's agitated, several notes given in more rapid sequence such as “keee-di-di-di” or longer trilled series. In its display flight, a continuously repeated similar-sounding “kil-deer” or “kee-deeyu”. In alarm utters a long fast trill, “trrrrrrrrr”.

Reproduction

May feign injury near its nest to distract intruders, or fly into the faces of livestock.

Distribution/habitat

File:Future Parents - Killdeers mating.png

Killdeers mating.

It is common in fields and pastures,

grassy or plowed fields and golf courses, often far from water but may be found in marshy fields.

In the United States It is found Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

In Canada It is found in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. It is also found in Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

In Middle America Northern and Southern Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

In the Caribbean Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and the Virgin Islands.

In South America It is found in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

It is a vagrant to the Azores, France^{[real world]}/Devonshire^{[alt. univ.]}, Galapagos Islands, Great Britain, Greenland, Grenada, Hawaiian Islands, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Madeira Islands, Martinique, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela.

References

External links

Projects <fb:like/>
File:Paw 1.png This article is part of Project Aves, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each bird, including made-up species. This article is part of Project Charadriiformes, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each charadriiform, including made-up species. This article is part of Project Charadriidae, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each plover, including made-up species.