- SCIENTIFIC NAME
- Charadrius vociferus
- CLASSIFICATION
- Bird
- LIFE SPAN
- 2-10 Years
- STATE CONSERVATION STATUS
-
- State Protected
- FEDERAL CONSERVATION STATUS
- Least Concern
- GAME STATUS
- Non-Game
- GAME TYPE
- None
- Washoe
- Humboldt
- Pershing
- Churchill
- Mineral
- Lyon
- Douglas
- Carson City
- Storey
- Elko
- Lander
- Eureka
- White Pine
- Esmeralda
- Nye
- Lincoln
- Clark
Habitat & Range
The Killdeer is widespread over much of North America. In Nevada, they are found throughout. They build their nests on the ground and often choose more populated areas like parking lots, driveways, and golf courses.
- Agricultural Lands
- Developed Landscapes
- Grasslands
Threats
- Pesticides
- Predation
Natural History
Killdeer eat a diet of mostly insects but occasionally feed on seeds and berries as well. These birds are a common sight around human establishments, demonstrating their characteristic behavior of running and then halting. Their nests are comprised of a small scrape on bare ground in an open habitat. They typically lay 3-5 buff-colored eggs and may raise up to two broods per year. Chicks are precocial and can fly by day 25.
Killdeer are a shorebird, although they do not need to be around water like other shorebirds. It’s not uncommon to find their nests in very busy, urban areas. They are very protective of their nests and will go out of their way to lure predators away from their nests. They do their characteristic ‘broken-wing display’ if anything gets too close to their nests.
Fun Facts
OTHER Species
