Plovers (Charadriidae)
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus. Insects and invertebrates picked from bare ground.
Plovers (Charadriidae)KilldeerCharadrius vociferus
- Scientific name
- Charadrius vociferus
- Length
- 7.9–11 in
- Weight
- 2.6–4.5 oz
- Nest
- Bare scrape on gravel, a driveway or a flat roof
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 4–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 22–28 days
- Broods
- 1–3 per season
Identification
- Two bold black breast bands
- Brown back and bright rusty rump
- Big dark eye with a red eye-ring
Voice
A loud, insistent 'kill-DEER, kill-DEER'.
Diet and feeding
Insects and invertebrates picked from bare ground.
Killdeers by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | February–July |
| Alaska | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Alberta | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Arizona | Year-round resident | February–July |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | March–July |
| British Columbia | Summer breeder | April–July |
| California | Year-round resident | February–July |
| Colorado | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Connecticut | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | March–July |
| Florida | Year-round resident | February–July |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | February–July |
| Idaho | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Illinois | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Indiana | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Iowa | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Kansas | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | March–July |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | February–July |
| Maine | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | March–July |
| Massachusetts | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Michigan | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Minnesota | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | February–July |
| Missouri | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Montana | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Nebraska | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Nevada | Summer breeder | March–July |
| New Brunswick | Summer breeder | April–July |
| New Hampshire | Summer breeder | April–July |
| New Jersey | Summer breeder | March–July |
| New Mexico | Year-round resident | March–July |
| New York | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Summer breeder | April–July |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | March–July |
| North Dakota | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Northwest Territories | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Nova Scotia | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Ohio | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Oklahoma | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Ontario | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | March–July |
| Pennsylvania | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Prince Edward Island | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Quebec | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Rhode Island | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | April–July |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | February–July |
| South Dakota | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | March–July |
| Texas | Year-round resident | February–July |
| Utah | Summer breeder | March–July |
| Vermont | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | March–July |
| Washington | Year-round resident | March–July |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | March–July |
| Wisconsin | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Wyoming | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Yukon | Summer breeder | April–July |
Frequently asked
What do killdeer eat?
Insects and invertebrates picked from bare ground. At feeders: none — bare gravel and short grass are the habitat.
How big is a Killdeer?
7.9–11 in long and 2.6–4.5 oz.
Do killdeer use birdhouses?
No. Bare scrape on gravel, a driveway or a flat roof.
Sources
- Killdeer — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Killdeer life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Killdeer — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.