The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is a medium-sized shorebird that plays an important role in the environment. Here are some quick answers about the Killdeer:
What does a Killdeer look like?
Killdeer are a type of plover that are slender shorebirds with long pointed wings, short bills, and round heads. They have brown upperparts, white underparts, and two black breast bands. Their rumps are reddish orange and their tails have black and white stripes. Killdeer grow to be between 9-11 inches in length with a wingspan of 20-26 inches.
Where do Killdeer live?
Killdeer have a wide distribution and live throughout much of North America. They breed in all the lower 48 United States, parts of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean islands. Killdeer are found in open habitats near water including fields, meadows, golf courses, athletic fields, driveways, parking lots, gravel roads, and shorelines of lakes, rivers, and coastal habitats.
What do Killdeer eat?
Killdeer are omnivores and eat a variety of invertebrates and insects. Their diet consists of flies, beetles, earthworms, moths, butterflies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, grubs, snails, crayfish and other crustaceans. They will also eat seeds and grains. Killdeer forage for food in soft soil or wet mud by probing with their bills. They pick insects off vegetation or capture them in flight.
How do Killdeer nest?
Killdeer nest on the ground in open areas with short vegetation and gravel. They do not build an enclosed nest. The nest consists of a scrape or shallow depression lined with pebbles, fragments of shells, and small sticks. It is well camouflaged in rocks or gravel. Females typically lay 3-5 eggs that are buff to beige in color with black markings. Both parents incubate the eggs for 22-28 days before they hatch.
How do Killdeer care for their young?
Killdeer chicks hatch with their eyes open and covered in downy feathers. They are precocial, meaning they are mobile and can leave the nest shortly after hatching. The parents do not actually feed the chicks directly. Instead, they lead the chicks to areas with good foraging habitat. The chicks feed themselves on insects and other invertebrates. The young fledge and become capable of flight within 25-35 days after hatching.
How do Killdeer defend their nests and young?
Killdeer are known for their elaborate broken-wing display to distract potential predators from their nests or young. To feign injury, the parent Killdeer calls loudly and drags its wing as if it were broken. This distracts the predator and draws it away from the nest area. Killdeer may also dive bomb or peck animals that get too close. The broken-wing display and calls also warn the chicks to take cover and stay still.
Why are Killdeer important to the environment?
As a common shorebird, the Killdeer plays several important roles in the environment:
- Killdeer control insect and invertebrate populations. Their diet helps manage pest species.
- They disperse seeds and assist with plant propagation through their diet.
- Killdeer serve as prey for larger predatory birds and animals, providing food higher up in the ecosystem.
- As prey species, Killdeer are indicators of ecosystem health. Declining Killdeer numbers may indicate problems in the ecosystem.
- Killdeer promote soil turnover and aeration as they forage.
- Their abandoned nests provide habitat for other species.
What threats face Killdeer?
Some key threats and risks to Killdeer populations include:
- Habitat loss from development, filling in wetlands, and conversion of grasslands to agriculture
- Climate change affects their breeding and migration patterns
- Predation from free-roaming cats, dogs, and foxes near housing developments
- Vehicle collisions as they nest and feed near roads
- Pesticides reduce their insect food sources and can poison the birds
- Disturbance from human recreation near nesting sites
What conservation efforts help Killdeer?
Some conservation actions that can protect Killdeer include:
- Habitat protection and restoration of wetlands and grasslands
- Managing water levels in wetlands where Killdeer breed
- Establishing protected wildlife and shorebird reserves
- Putting predator guards around nests near human sites
- Public education campaigns about living with Killdeer
- Enforcing leash laws for dogs and cats near Killdeer habitats
Interesting facts about Killdeer
- Killdeer get their name from their loud, shrill “kill-dee” call.
- They are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.
- Killdeer sometimes nest on rooftops if the gravel substrate resembles their natural habitat.
- The broken-wing display is also used by other plovers and some egrets.
- Killdeer regularly live to be over 10 years old with the oldest recorded at 16 years 9 months.
- The Killdeer is the state bird of North Dakota.
Conclusion
In summary, the Killdeer is a widespread shorebird that plays an important ecological role. Through their diet, habitat needs, and position in the food chain, Killdeer contribute to ecosystem balance. However, they face a number of threats from human activities. Conservation efforts focused on habitat protection, public education, and reducing disturbances can help maintain healthy Killdeer populations into the future.