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WetlandScrapeMedium · 96 g
What the Killdeer sounds like
ID tip
The killdeer is a tall and slender plover, with a relatively long tail. Adults ranging in length from 20 to 28 cm (7.9 to 11.0 in), having a wingspan between 59 and 63 cm (23 and 25 in), and usually being between 72 and 121 g (2.5 and 4.3 oz) in weight. It has a short, thick, and dark bill, flesh-colored legs, and a red eye ring. Its upper parts are mostly brown with rufous fringes, its cap, back, and wings being the former color. It has a white forehead and a white stripe behind the eye, and its lores and the upper borders to the white forehead are black.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Killdeer
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Killdeer
The map shades 40 countries with regular records, and 10 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in United Kingdom, France, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, French Guiana, Grenada, Martinique, St. Vincent & Grenadines.
About the Killdeer
The killdeer is a large plover found in the Americas. Its shrill, two-syllable call is often heard, sounding like "kill deer". It was described and given its current scientific name in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae. Three subspecies are described. Its upperparts are mostly brown with rufous fringes, the head has patches of white and black, and two black bands cross the breast. The belly and the rest of the breast are white. The nominate subspecies breeds from southeastern Alaska and southern Canada to Mexico.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusThis species weighs a mean 47.4 g (1.7 oz.) for males and 46.1 g (1.6 oz.) for females, with body masses ranging from 37.6-54.7 g (1.3-1.9 oz.). and measures 17–19 cm (6.7–7.5 in) in length with a 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in) mean wing length.
Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaAdults are 17–19.5 cm (6.7–7.7 in) in length with a 35–41 cm (14–16 in) wingspan.
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusThe piping plover is a stout bird with a large rounded head, a short thick neck, and a stubby bill.
Side by side: Killdeer vs Semipalmated Plover · Common Ringed Plover vs Killdeer · Killdeer vs Piping Plover
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