Killdeer

This noisy and handsome bird (Charadrius vociferus) gets both its Latin name and its common name from its call. The common name tells us what it says, and th...

Hard to see, easy to hear, the killdeer, named after its call, is a common plover of America. Striking white bands on the forehead and chest break up the outline of the body. The straw coloured legs are very long. Killdeer feed primarily on insects and beetles, many of which are pests like weevils and wireworms. The nest is only a depression in the ground lined with a few pebbles. The mottled eggs are hard to see. As with all ground-nesting birds, the chicks too are well-camouflaged. For more information on the killdeer, why not contact the Canadian Wildlife Service in Ottawa.