Life List 056
Visually documented
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
- First photographed
- June 2, 2026
- First location
- Colorado, United States
- Conservation status
- Near Threatened
An evolving study
Killdeer portfolio
This collection grows as I return to photograph new behavior, habitat, seasons, and stages of life.
Natural history
Species at a glance
Charadrius vociferus
Overview
The Killdeer is a vocal plover of open ground, often nesting far from water. Adults protect eggs and chicks with distraction displays, including the well-known broken-wing performance.
Identification
Brown above and white below with two bold black breast bands, a bright orange rump and upper tail visible in display or flight, a white forehead, and a red eye ring on adults.
Range
Breeds across most of Canada, the United States, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean. Northern populations migrate to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America.
Habitat
Gravel bars, shorelines, mudflats, short grass, pastures, agricultural fields, rooftops, parking areas, and other sparsely vegetated open ground.
Diet
Insects, earthworms, spiders, snails, crustaceans, and other small invertebrates picked from the ground.
Photography by Brittany Templin