Killdeer are medium-sized shorebirds found throughout North America. With their large eyes, brown and white plumage, and distinctive “kill-dee” call, they are a familiar sight in fields, gravel parking lots, and beaches. Their endearing appearance sometimes leads people to wonder if killdeer would make suitable pets. However, there are several important factors to consider before bringing one of these shorebirds home.
Appearance and Behavior
Killdeer get their name from their loud, shrill “kill-dee” call that they use to communicate and defend their territory. They have brown upperparts and white undersides with two black breast bands. Their long tails and wings are also marked with white. Killdeer grow to be 9-11 inches long with a wingspan around 20-24 inches and weigh between 3-5 ounces.
These shorebirds are known for their elaborate broken wing display used to distract predators from nests or young. When threatened, the adult killdeer will crouch low to the ground with wings spread and tail fanned, all while calling loudly. They may even go as far as to fake a broken wing by dragging themselves along the ground away from the nest to make themselves seem like easy prey.
Killdeer are precocial birds, meaning the chicks hatch covered in downy feathers and are able to leave the nest within hours to search for food. Though the parents continue caring for them, killdeer chicks learn quickly how to forage, fly short distances, and even perform distraction displays.
Natural Habitat and Diet
Killdeer are considered shorebirds but actually prefer open fields and mudflats far from water. They nest on the ground in gravel areas, fields, golf courses, athletic fields, driveways, parking lots, airports, and more. Their habitat ranges across southern Canada and the continental United States, including Alaska.
These birds have adapted remarkably well to human environments and will thrive anywhere with open bare ground providing good visibility. However, this dependence on flat, treeless areas makes killdeer vulnerable to habitat loss from development and urbanization.
Killdeer primarily eat insects, spiders, worms, snails, shrimp and other invertebrates. They use their slender bills to probe into the ground and flip over rocks, sticks and debris to uncover food. Killdeer may also peck at seeds or nibble on plant material on occasion.
Housing Requirements
Providing proper housing for a killdeer presents challenges for a few reasons:
- They nest on open ground and prefer flat environments with sparse vegetation.
- They are prone to stress and may have trouble adapting to confined spaces.
- Their sharp claws can damage indoor flooring.
- As prey animals, they may be nervous and try to escape any enclosure.
Killdeer in captivity would likely require an outdoor habitat allowing them plenty of bare ground on which to nest and forage. The enclosure would need enough space for them to take short flight and have an area of soil or sand for probing for food.
Even with an appropriate habitat setup, killdeer may have a difficult time thriving in captivity away from their natural environment. Their specialized behaviors for finding food, defending territory, and reacting to predators may not translate well to a confined setting.
Social and Training
In the wild, killdeer are not social birds but they will congregate in small flocks during migration or on particularly good feeding grounds. Keeping multiple killdeer together could be an option but may also increase aggressive territorial behaviors.
Killdeer are intelligent, observant birds but they have not been domesticated in any way. Attempting to hand-raise or train killdeer would likely prove extremely challenging due to their inherent wild nature. They are not inclined to form bonds with humans.
Their skittish and nervous disposition would also hinder training. Any small perceived threat sends killdeer into frenzied escape behaviors. Getting them to tolerate human touch and interaction for any length of time would require incredible skill, time and patience.
Permits and Legality
In the United States and Canada, it is illegal to keep native killdeer as pets due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This act protects migratory birds from being captured, traded or sold. Only licensed facilities like zoos or rehabilitators may legally hold killdeer in captivity.
Depending on your state or region, additional permits and licenses may be required for housing any wildlife in captivity. Be sure to check all federal, state and local regulations before attempting to keep killdeer as pets.
Health Concerns
There are a few health considerations to factor in for pet killdeer:
- Stress – Captivity induces high levels of stress in wild birds that can weaken the immune system and increase disease susceptibility.
- Injuries – Their sharp claws and powerful wings can result in scratches or other injuries to human handlers.
- Parasites – Like any wild bird, killdeer can carry a variety of internal/external parasites transmissible to humans or other pets.
- Zoonotic diseases – Salmonellosis, Newcastle disease, avian influenza, and psittacosis are examples of illnesses killdeer could potentially transmit.
- Nutrition – Replicating their exact wild diet can prove challenging in captivity.
Providing vet care for pet killdeer presents its own difficulties, as few avian veterinarians have experience treating wild shorebirds. Overall, the considerable health risks to both humans and birds make killdeer unsuitable pets.
Costs
Beyond permits and habitat materials, caring for a pet killdeer would incur some ongoing costs, including:
- Food – Live insects or commercial insectivore diet
- Veterinary care – Exams, testing, treatments
- Supplements – Vitamins, calcium
- Enrichment – Foraging/exercise toys
Depending on factors like diet, enclosure size, and vet fees, estimated annual costs could easily exceed $1000 per bird. And any major medical issues could increase costs exponentially.
Legality of Keeping Killdeer as Pets
In the United States, Canada, and Mexico, killdeer are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This act made it unlawful to possess migratory birds or their parts (feathers, eggs, nests) without a permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Here are some key points regarding the legality of keeping killdeer as pets in North America:
- All native killdeer species are classified as migratory birds and cannot be captured or kept as pets by private individuals.
- Only facilities like zoos, museums, nature centers, etc. may apply for special migratory bird permits allowing public display for educational purposes.
- Rehabilitators may temporarily house sick/injured birds but must release them once rehabilitated.
- Any private individual found to illegally possess a killdeer risks fines up to $15,000 and imprisonment up to 6 months.
- Plucking feathers, disturbing nests, or killing protected migratory birds can also lead to penalties.
Some exceptions may exist for non-releasable birds if special permits are obtained. But in general, capturing or keeping killdeer as personal pets is prohibited by federal law throughout North America.
Availability of Killdeer From Breeders
While wild-caught killdeer are protected and illegal for private possession, one may wonder whether captive-bred birds are available from breeders. However, locating killdeer from breeders proves extremely difficult for a few reasons:
- No major avicultural groups track killdeer in captive breeding programs.
- They are challenging to breed and rarely raised intentionally by aviculturists.
- Legal restrictions prevent most private individuals from keeping or breeding migratory birds like killdeer.
- Permits allowing possession of wild-caught birds typically prohibit breeding or commercial activity.
- Even if captive-bred birds were available, transfer to another private owner would be illegal.
In summary, accessing killdeer from breeders or commercial sources is virtually impossible. Very few breeders exist, and legal restrictions prevent broader trade or ownership. Hopefully this provides helpful context on the availability situation.
Alternatives to Keeping Killdeer as Pets
For those charmed by killdeer but unable to legally own one as a pet, there are a few possible alternatives to consider:
Observe wild killdeer
Watching and photographing killdeer in their natural habitat can provide enjoyment without removing birds from the wild. Killdeer congregate in open areas like fields, parking lots, and beaches where their behaviors can be safely observed from a distance.
Care for an injured/orphaned killdeer
In some cases, an individual may be able to temporarily provide rehabilitative care to an injured or orphaned killdeer under the guidance of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. With the proper permits, this can allow hands-on interaction and caregiving.
Volunteer at a wildlife center
Getting involved with a wildlife rehabilitation center as a volunteer can provide opportunities to work directly with killdeer needing treatment before being released.
Support killdeer conservation
Rather than removing birds from the wild, passionate individuals can contribute to killdeer conservation through habitat protection/restoration, volunteering for surveys, participating in research, etc.
Keep a related ground-dwelling bird species
Certain domestically-raised bird species like quail, button quail, or emu share some behavioral similarities with killdeer but make suitable, legal pets.
Conclusion
In the end, while their appealing nature provides some temptation, killdeer do not make reasonable pets for the average person. Their needs for wide open spaces, specialized diet, skittish behavior, protected legal status, risk of injury/illness, and difficulty adapting to captivity all pose significant challenges. Individuals truly passionate about killdeer would be wise to redirect their energy toward appreciation and conservation of these remarkable birds in the wild.