Birds of Texas

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus 9-11")

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© Walter Bauer, Sugar Land, Texas - 1998

Field Marks: This noisy breeding plover of much of Texas is larger than the other "ringed" plovers. It has two black breast bands instead of one. In flight, displays a golden-red rump, longish tail, and white wing stripe.
Voice: Noisy with a loud insistent kill-deeah, repeated; a plaintive dee-ee which rises; dee-dee-dee, etc. Also has a low trill.
Where found: Canada south to central Mexico to the West Indies. It also can be found in Peru. It is a migrant in the North.
Texas: Resident in all parts.

Habitat: Fields, airports, parking lots, riverbanks, mudflats, shores.

Nest: A scrape on the ground in a plowed field, bald spot in pasture, gravel shore, roadway, driveway, etc. Lays (4)eggs which are spotted.