Description:  The Killdeer is in the Plover family and the easiest to identify among all of them. Just look for the dark double neckband which shows up black. They have a brownish-tan back with white under parts. They have the shortest bill of all plovers. One thing to note, the juvenile can show only one neck band and can be confused with the Wilson’s Plover very easily.

 

Habitat:   This is a shorebird that you can see without going to the beach since it prefers any open ground including parks, golf courses and fields - the lower the vegetation, the better.    

 

Diet:   They mostly eat insects and some weed seeds. 

Range: These birds winter south into Mexico and Central America. Found just about all over the US.    

Breeding: They are monogamous and can have two broods a year. Their nest is in the open that has an extended view. They are made often on pebbles or small stones and usually far from water. The nests can be lined with grass or with nothing at all. They have 3-5 eggs that are buff marked with blackish brown marks.

Interesting Facts: Killdeer exhibit a clever "broken wing display" in which they appear to be struggling with a broken wing while leading the predator away from their babies. A group of Killdeers are known as a Season of Killdeers.