B Wetland · Wave 2

Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus

Familiar shorebird of fields/parking lots; kill-deer call and broken-wing act.

At a glance

Size: Length: 8–11 in (20–28 cm); wingspan: 18–19 in (46–48 cm); weight: 2. (weight…
Wingspan: 18–19 in (46–48 cm)
Habitat: Fields, airports, lawns, river banks, mudflats, and shores. Killdeer are often found on open ground, such as pastures, plowed fields, large lawns, and even at…
Diet: Mostly insects. The Killdeer feeds on a wide variety of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and fly larvae, as well as spiders,…

Range: Migratory in north, may be permanent resident in south. Spring migration is very early, returning to some northern areas in February or March.

Nesting: In the breeding season, male Killdeer fly high over their nesting territory in floating, wavering flight, with slow, deep wingbeats, giving the kill-dee call repeatedly. On the ground, courtship…

Hear this bird

General call / song: A shrill kill-deee, fill-deee or killdeer, killdeer. Also dee-dee-dee. Call Pattern Falling, Flat, Rising Call Type Trill, Whistle

Mating / display: Pair / courtship recordings are linked below when Audubon labels them. Original note — Courtship behaviors described on Audubon Nesting section; distinct mating call often not separately labeled.

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Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide Mating / courtship calls

How to know it

Habitat: Fields, airports, lawns, river banks, mudflats, and shores. Killdeer are often found on open ground, such as pastures, plowed fields,…
Diet: Mostly insects. The Killdeer feeds on a wide variety of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and fly larvae, as well as…
Nesting: In the breeding season, male Killdeer fly high over their nesting territory in floating, wavering flight, with slow, deep wingbeats,…

Behavior

Contact/alarm notes included in Audubon Songs and Calls summary where listed; see Cornell /sounds for labeled examples.

Fun facts

Familiar shorebird of fields/parking lots; kill-deer call and broken-wing act.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text or short paraphrases with source links. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.