kildeer
1. Bird Name
The kildeer, or more formally known as Charadrius vociferus, is a captivating bird species.
2. Appearance
The kildeer is lauded for its sleek and athletic appearance. Featuring a light, sandy brown on top and a stark, dazzling white at the belly, it is blessed with a rich mix of coloration. Each bird possesses two distinctive black bands across its breast; a unique marking that sets it apart from other shorebirds. The beak is short, stout, and conical, perfectly adapted for probing the ground for food. Their eyes, generally of a dark brown or black color, are large and demonstrate a captivating sense of alertness. Interestingly, there’s virtually no noticeable difference in the physical appearance between males and females, making them fairly difficult to distinguish.
3. Size
The size of the kildeer ranges from 23-27 cm in length, with an impressive wingspan averaging 46-48 cm. The weight of this bird species varies between 72 to 121 grams, making them one of the lighter breeds of shorebirds.
4. Habitat & Distribution
Kildeer are primarily found in North America. They’re adaptable birds that can be discovered in a variety of habitats such as wetlands, farmlands, tundra, grasslands, and even urban areas. They prefer open spaces with low vegetation where they can easily spot potential predators.
5. Interesting Facts
Unique to the kildeer is its dramatic “broken-wing” act, when threatened, it fakes an injury to lure predators away from its nest. Another intriguing fact is their migratory habits; kildeer in the northern areas fly south for the winter, while those living in the southern U.S or along the Pacific Coast remain year-round residents. Culturally, the kildeer holds significant value among indigenous cultures for its distinctive call believed to bring rain.
6. Diet
Primarily insectivores, kildeers feast on a variety of invertebrates, like beetles, spiders, earthworms, and snails. They also consume seeds and berries on occasion.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Kildeers are known for their intentional diverting tactics, luring potential threats away from their nests. They also have easily recognizable sounds, their piercing, high-pitched call, “kil-deer,” from which their name derives.
8. Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, the kildeer is currently in the category of “Least Concern”, with a stable population trend that seems to be growing, primarily due to their adaptability to multiple habitats.
9. Lifespan
The average lifespan of kildeer is reasonably long for birds its size, with most reaching 10-11 years in both their natural habitats and captivity.
10. Additional Notes
In Spanish, the kildeer is known by the name “chorlito tildío.” Well-adapted to human-disturbed habitats, kildeers don’t generally consider human presence as a threat. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem, mainly acting as pest controllers due to their diet of insects and small invertebrates. Their eggs are often used in bio-indicator studies, offering researchers insight into environmental health.
