Photo: Alan D. Wilson / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 96.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Charadrius
- Species vociferus
Where it lives
Inland subarctic to temperate North America to Central America; coastal Ecuador to Peru
Quick facts
- Weight
- 96.4 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look essentially alike; males may average slightly more black on the head and more rufous on the upperparts, but the difference is slight and usually detectable only when a mated pair is seen side by side.
Juvenile appearance
Downy chicks show only a single black breast band (adults have two); fledged juveniles resemble adults.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Killdeer is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Killdeer is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is a member of the Charadriidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA inland subarctic to temperate North America to Central America; coastal Ecuador to Peru.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 96.4 g, with a wing length of about 15.9 cm and a tail of around 8.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 14.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Killdeer?
The Killdeer is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 96.4 g.
Where does the Killdeer live?
The Killdeer is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA inland subarctic to temperate North America to Central America; coastal Ecuador to Peru, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Killdeer belong to?
The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Killdeer eat?
The Killdeer is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Killdeer migrate?
The Killdeer is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Killdeer endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Killdeer make?
1 real field recording of the Killdeer — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Killdeer's range?
The Killdeer has a mapped global range of about 14.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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