Killdeer
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae Genus: Charadrius
Species: Charadrius vociferus
The Killdeer is a shorebird that can be seen without going to the beach. It prefers large fields with short grass, such as the many fields around the Regents Campus. Its bizarre name comes from the shrill kill-deer call it often makes. It can be seen circling above fields as well as running through the short grass and pausing every so often to see if it has flushed out any insects. It also hunts in shallow, standing water by shaking its feet to disturb prey. When a predator comes near a Killdeer’s nest, the Killdeer puts up a broken wing display in an attempt to lure the animal away from its brood. If a large mammal, such as a horse or cow, threatens to trample the nest, the Killdeer fluffs up its feathers to make itself look bigger and runs at the animal to try to get it to change direction. Although it is accustomed to dry environments, the Killdeer is also a strong swimmer from an early age.
Conservation status: Least concern
Description: White below and brown above with two black bands across the white chest, a black beak, and a stripe over the eye
Length: 11 inches
Wingspan: 22 inches
Diet: Invertebrates such as earthworms, snails, crayfish, and insect larvae
Habitat: Shorelines or pastures, often near water
Season: All year
Credit source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
