Most North American shorebirds breed in the Arctic and winter on southern coasts; exceptions include species that summer in the U.S., such as spotted sandpipers, mountain plovers, upland sandpipers and long-billed curlews. But the most widespread and conspicuous inland shorebird is the killdeer.
Killdeer are robin-sized plovers that are easily recognized by their two black breast bands and loud, piercing call; in flight, their white wing bars and rusty tail feathers aid identification. They are often seen on mudflats along reservoirs and large rivers but also favor short grass areas such as lawns, grazed fields, airports and cemeteries. State Parks with lakes or reservoirs, offering both mudflats and mowed grasslands, are usually the best place to observe them.
Breeding throughout most of the lower forty-eight and southern Canada, killdeer nest on the ground, keeping predators at bay with their aggressive and noisy displays; should this behavior fail, they often resort to the "broken wing act," hobbling away to divert the predator's attention. Usually seen in pairs, these plovers may gather on favored feeding grounds and often migrate in small flocks. Most winter throughout the southern half of the U.S. but some may be found as far north as the Great Lakes.
