Killdeer: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Shorebirds · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. The killdeer says its own name: one of its calls sounds like kil-deee. It is a noisy bird that calls even at night.
2. To lure a predator from its nest, a killdeer acts hurt: it droops its wings, fans its tail and flashes its bright orange rump.
3. This shorebird does not always nest near water. Some lay their eggs on flat gravel rooftops, sometimes lined with white pebbles or bits of shell.
4. When it is hot, a parent stands over the eggs to shade them, keeping them cool rather than warm.
5. A killdeer may balance on one leg and jiggle the other foot in the shallows for roughly five seconds, then grab any prey that pops out.

The quiz

1. Where does the killdeer's name come from?

• Its call (correct)
• A famous hunter
• Its habit of chasing deer
• The colour of its legs

Its call sounds like kill-deer.

2. What colour does a killdeer flash at a predator during its act?

• Bright blue
• Pure black
• Bright orange (correct)
• Lime green

It turns its tail to show the orange colour of its rump.

3. Which unusual place do some killdeer use for their nest?

• Inside hollow trees
• Flat gravel rooftops (correct)
• Floating rafts of reeds
• Underground burrows

Some nest on flat rooftops covered with gravel.

4. What do killdeer parents do for their eggs on hot days?

• Bury them in the sand
• Splash them with water
• Move them to a new nest
• Shade them to keep them cool (correct)

In the heat, a parent shades the eggs to cool them.

5. What is the killdeer's foot-trembling trick for?

• Stirring up prey in shallow water (correct)
• Warming its toes
• Calling its chicks
• Scaring off rivals

Shaking a foot in shallow water stirs up prey it then pecks.

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