Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus

       

Killdeer Tracks

       

 

 

One-day-old
                        killdeer chicks. Photo by Pete Mills, BC,
                        Canada.

Killdeer chicks one day old. Photo by Pete Mills, BC, Canada. Thanks, Pete! According to Pete, these chicks were up and running around after the parents the next day.

A familiar shorebird found most everywhere in the U.S. This robin-sized bird has two black bands on its throat. Its body is light brown with white below. It prefers to inhabit open areas and is somewhat abundant. Killdeer nest on the ground in a nest lined with grass. Adults protect their nests by feigning injury when a predator approaches. The parent tries to lure away the predator by dragging its wing along the ground and hobbling away from the nest site. When the danger passes, the bird flies off.

The call sounds like: "kill-DEEE."

 

killdeer track left foot

   
   
killdeer track right foot
   
   
killdeer trail pattern
   
   
killdeer walking
   
   
   
   
   

 

 

Tracks show three toes facing forward. They are small, but abundant along water’s edge in many places.

 

 

 

   

 

 

Left track of a killdeer.

   

Killdeer tracks and scat.

 

 

Killdeer scat found with its tracks. The silty mud along rivers is a good place to find the tracks of these birds.

The next three photos show young killdeer birds who were found near a river. There was a group that included four juvenile birds. They were able to fly, but reluctant to do so.

Killdeer
                      juvenile on river bar near Leggett Creek, Redway,
                      CA. Photo copyright Kim A. Cabrera 2008.

Killdeer
                    juvenile on river bar near Leggett Creek, Redway,
                    CA. Photo copyright Kim A. Cabrera 2008.

Killdeer
                    juvenile on river bar near Leggett Creek, Redway,
                    CA. Photo copyright Kim A. Cabrera 2008.

   

Killdeer on a rock.

Can you see the killdeer camouflaged on this rock?

 

 

Find posters, greeting cards, postage stamps and more in my new store.

Visit Beartracker's Nature Store online store at: www.dirt-time.com   Happy tracking!!

What else can you find in the nature store? Beartracker's  T-shirts, sweatshirts, journals, book bags, toddler and infant apparel, mouse pads, posters, postcards, coffee mugs, travel mugs, clocks, Frisbees, bumper stickers, hats, stickers, and many more items. All with tracks or paw  prints, or nature scenes. Custom products are available. If you don't see the track you want on the product you want, email me and I can probably create it. Proceeds from all sales go to pay the monthly fees for this web site. You can help support this site as well as get great tracking products! Thank you!

 

Find other tracking products: www.zazzle.com/tracker8459*

 

Also visit these fine stores for more products of interest:

NDN Pride shop - For Indian Pride items for all tribes. Custom items available on request.

ASL Signs of Love - For anyone who uses or is learning ASL, American Sign Language. Custom name items and more are available here.

Get Every Child Outdoors (Get E.C.O.) - My shop dedicated to nature and getting kids interested in nature and the outdoors.

Sales from all stores give commissions to Beartracker's Animal Tracks Den, which helps keep this site online as a free service. We are celebrating ten years online this year!

 

 

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Got a killdeer story? E-mail me and tell me about it.

tracker777@hotmail.com

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Copyright © 1997, 2018.
Text, photos, and drawings by Kim A. Cabrera - Desert Moon Design
Killdeer chicks photo by Pete Mills.

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Updated: March 25, 2018.

 

 
     

 

 

 

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