Killdeer

Appearance:

Length: 7.9-11.0 in
Weight: 2.6-4.5 oz
Wingspan: 18.1-18.9 in

Killdeers have the characteristic large, round head, large eye, and short bill of all plovers. They are especially slender and lanky, with a long, pointed tail and long wings. Brownish-tan on top and white below. The white chest is barred with two black bands, and the brown face is marked with black and white patches. The bright orange-buff rump is conspicuous in flight.

Habitat:

Although Charadrius vocifurus are shorebirds, they inhabit pastures, meadows, and dry uplands often many miles from water. They usually fly singly in an erratic manner and are seldom seen in large flocks.

Behavior:

Killdeers can be observed running across a field or meadow, then coming to a sudden stop and standing still as if to look or listen. Then suddenly they will peck at the ground in quest of insects. The bird will alternately run and stand in this manner continually in its search for food. Most of their food comes from insects found in fields, riverbanks, or possibly lawns. They eat mostly weevils, beetles, grasshoppers, ants, caterpillars, bugs, caddisflies, and dragonflies. They may also ingest spiders, ticks, centipedes, earthworms, snails, crayfish, crabs, and some seeds. Killdeers have been known to follow a farmer plowing a field to feed on grubs or beetles found in the fresh furrow. They may feed in shallow water but like many other shorebirds leave the water to defecate on dry land.