{"id":1683,"date":"2019-10-11T05:23:21","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T05:23:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/?p=1683"},"modified":"2019-10-11T18:00:29","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T18:00:29","slug":"the-killdeer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/2019\/10\/11\/the-killdeer\/","title":{"rendered":"The Killdeer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Part 1: The Bird who cried Broken Wing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Adult Killdeer. Photo<\/a> by: Claude Nadeau<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferu<\/em>s) is a shorebird in the Order Charadriiformes and in the Family Charadriidae, hence it is classified as a Plover (Baker, 2006). The Killdeer has the typical Plover features of a large and round head, large eyes and a short bill. The Killdeer takes on its own features as a slender bird with long legs, wings and tail. The Killdeer gets its name from calling “kill-deer” during mating displays. Otherwise, calls are a sharp “dee”. (Killdeer, All About Birds). As for colouration, KILL is brown or tan on its back and head and white on its belly and breast. The face is mostly brown with some black and white. The most distinctive features include two black bands on the breast, although downy juveniles have only a single breast-band, and an orange rump used in its feigning injury display that is explained below (Sibley, 2016; Killdeer, All About Birds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Killdeer adult (two breast-bands) and young (one breast-band). Photo<\/a> by Ian Routley<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Killdeer broken wing display. Photo<\/a> by: Harold Stiver<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It’s relatively easy to spot Killdeer because of their distinctive features and their extensive range. The Killdeer is one of the most widely distributed birds over North America (Sanzenbacher and Haig, 2001). Individuals that breed in more northern regions migrate south for winter. On the other hand, individuals that breed in the southern U.S. and the Pacific coast are year-round residents and do not migrate (Killdeer, All About Birds). There is also a separate breeding population of Killdeer in South America, specifically Peru and Chile (Jackson and Jackson, 2000).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Killdeer North America range map<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The local range of Killdeer also covers many different areas. Killdeer are shorebirds that eat invertebrates, most of which are insects. Therefore, they aren’t limited to shores and can inhabit dry areas as well. They are often found and nest on open ground, for example; fields, lawns and mudflats (Killdeer, All About Birds). They are tolerant of human development, so Killdeer nest locations can sometimes be in a not so convenient spot for humans (below). Nests are simple scrapes, or shallow depressions in the ground, usually 3-3.5 inches across. Four to six eggs are laid which will be incubated for 22-28 days by both parents (Quilliam, 1988). However, males have a greater role in parental activities than females (Brunton, 1990). Before nesting can occur, individuals (mostly males) must attract a mate. They advertise to the opposite sex by calling out, scraping the ground and taking short circular flights calling ‘kill-deer’ while flying with slow and deep wingbeats. Once the advertising individual has attracted a mate they begin to scrape out a nest together, followed by copulation. Once pairs are made they stay together for one or two years (Phillips, 1972).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Killdeer nest in athletic facility field. Story<\/a> by Amelia Langas<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Killdeer (left) and nest (right) in a boat ramp parking lot, Nanaimo BC, May 19, 2019. Photo by Olivia Murphy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you haven’t seen Killdeer nesting, you’ve most likely seen their foraging behaviour. Individuals run along the ground and halt regularly as they search for insects and worms (Killdeer, All About Birds). Make sure to read below for more on research into Killdeer foraging habits. However, Killdeer nest protection behaviour takes the cake for amazing behaviour! Killdeer participate in parental defence. When a possible predator approaches the nest, the parents will use a series of ‘distraction displays’ to attempt to get the oncoming predator away from the nest and eggs. Both sexes use these distraction displays but male responses tend to be more intense than females. There are four different types of displays. There is the 1) crouched or upright run, 2) false-brooding, 3) injury feigning (broken wing display) and 4) threat display (Brunton, 1990). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n