Killdeer Facts
Killdeer Facts
|
| Interesting Killdeer Facts: |
|---|
| Killdeer can reach 8 to 11 inches in length and 2.6 to 4.5 ounces of weight. Males are larger than females. |
| Killdeer has brown back, white belly and orange-colored rump. It has white collar, two black bands on the upper part of the breasts and white stripes on the wing. Males, females and young birds look alike. |
| Killdeer has large, round head with short, dark-colored bill. It has long legs and long, slender wings. |
| Killdeer is an excellent swimmer. Adults are able to swim across fast flowing rivers and chicks over small streams. |
| Diet of killdeer is based on earthworms, beetles, snails, crayfish, larvae and grasshoppers. Killdeer occasionally consumes seed and small vertebrates such as frogs and minnows. |
| Name "killdeer" refers to "kill-deer" calls which this species often produces. "Kill-deer" calls are especially frequent during the courtship. |
| Killdeer was also known as "chattering plover" or "noisy plover" in the scientific community of the 18th century because of its loud, frequent shrills. |
| When killdeer is faced with danger, it will use its legs to run away from the predators. In the case that this tactic fails, killdeer will fly away. |
| Skunks, raccoons, foxes, cats and mice target eggs and young chicks, while hawks hunt adult killdeers. |
| Mating season of killdeers takes place during the spring. Pair of birds usually stays together several year. Both male and female participate in the construction of the nest and in the incubation of eggs. |
| Killdeers build nest on the gravelly or sandy soils near the water. They often construct several nests, but use only one for the laying of eggs. Other nests are used to confuse the predators. |
| Female lays 4 to 6 eggs in the bare, shallow depression in the ground and then collects and accumulates pebbles, sticks, shells and various trash around the nest. |
| Eggs hatch after 22 to 28 days. Chicks are covered with plumage and have one black bar on the breasts. They are able to walk and leave the nest shortly after hatching. |
| Killdeers frequently pretend to have wing injury to lure the predators away from the nest. Large animals such as cows or horses easily destroy eggs and nests with their hooves. Killdeers fluff-up their plumage, position their tails above head and run toward them to force these animal to change direction. |
| Killdeer can survive around 10 years in the wild. |
|
Related Links: Facts Plants Facts Animals Facts |