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Bird Identification

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Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus L 10 ½" (27cm)

Photo by Maslowski Wildlife Productions.

Listen to a killdeer.

Our most widespread and familiar shorebird, the killdeer can be found in grassy fields, around bodies of water, and even in driveways and on gravel rooftops from central Canada south to Mexico. Famous for its broken-wing distraction display near its nest, the killdeer's loud, ringing, ki-dee-dee or dee-dee-dee-dee calls announce its presence.

This bird is easily recognized by the two dark bands on the breast (it was once called the double-banded plover). The reddish rump is usually visible only when the bird flies or has spread one wing and is limping across the ground, drawing the intruder away from the eggs or young.

This sound file requires RealPlayer. Bird song courtesy of Lang Elliott, NatureSound Studio.

Wading Birds

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