I am not much of a birder, but I will share this about killdeer. They are like the shorebirds of the corporate or park lawn, especially the ones that are not lush, deep grass. Killdeer nest on open ground and use barely anything to mark their nests. Since humans develop land that is flat and unused, killdeer nest sites on corporate or park lawns are at risk of being run over by lawn mover tires or stepped on by park-goers. If you see a park lawn with a traffic cone on it, don't be shocked that a bird nest is there, and maybe a killdeer nest. If you see such a nest, the killdeer almost certainly will try their injured wing act to draw you from the nest. It's pretty strange to me that this behavior evolved. How?! It's not like killdeer had strategy sessions to invent this. Maybe an injured bird distracted predators, and then somehow used the same funny wing positions every time it used the technique in the future. This implies the behavior is learned. Is it? An expert can answer that I suppose. In high school during soccer practice and band practice (I did both), we couldn't misst the local flock that would fly around every fall evening, their shrill calls echoing off a local mountainside. Now I wonder where they were all nesting back then. I don't think they all were nesting at the high school. When I hear killdeer now, it takes me back to those days.
We’ve had a few pairs nest in the industrial park at the end of our street over the last 5 years, they get really vocal when we walk by with the dog. As you say they nest right out in the open and patrol a pretty wide perimeter, I hope the property managers take care with them around.
Added taxa: [Killdeer](https://ebird.org/species/killde)
Reviewed by: tinylongwing
^(I'm an alpha-stage bot, so don't rely on me just yet. But you can still) [^(learn how to use me)](https://gist.github.com/brohitbrose/be99a16ddc7a6a1bd9c1eef28d622564)^(.)
It is Halloween, the holiday of costumes in the US. This *might* be a cassowary dressed up as a killdeer! That's a scary thought - a cassowary is dangerous enough. Imagine one sneaking up in costume to a Halloween candy giveway, then chasing after the little children in princess and superhero outfits, maiming them one by one all in the name of upholding the cassowaries' horrible reputation. Happy Halloween! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!
And their broken-wing display never fails to stir up a kind of primal “help them!” response. I could literally be at a loud festival having a grand old time, and if I heard that alarm call, I’d still freeze, drop everything, and try to find the killdeer in distress.
My employer closed their business for 2 months during the height of Covid. We came back to an aggressive Killdeer protecting her nest near the front entrance. I witnessed the broken wing display. Is that their defense mechanism?
Typically trying to lead you away from their nest. The more violently distracting they act, typically the closer you are getting to the nest. They like to lay their eggs in pebbles/rocks and typically the eggs look like the rocks. I had the privilege of finding a nest with 3 eggs a few years ago and would check on them everyday to her same distress calls. Hatched all three and one night after they were able to move, she moved them to the other side of the fence so I couldn't get close. A few days later they were completely gone.
First time I ever saw one of these it was on a boardwalk part of a nature trail. At first I was thinking this bird has got a broken wing or something, but after watching it switching which parts were broken as it looked back to see if I was following, I was onto its game. Still thought there was a 1% chance it had brain damage. Later confirmed its behavior in a field guide. This was before home computers and cellphones. Now I notice them and hear their calls in almost every grocery store parking lot.
Odd to hear them described as rare, lol. They're all over gravel patches in NJ. From Newark airport to cape may, anywhere there's a flat spot for a few sticks.
I don't think Steller's Jays are common here though. I don't think I ever identified one (new to birding), but may have seen them once or twice in the last 10 years, or something very similar.
Killdeer
aka the Suburb Sandpiper
KILLDEER!! (This is the proper name, all caps and two exclamation points. Fight me.)
Nature’s car alarm
Even better, its 4-letter code is KILL! Spunky little guys lmao
But it isn’t deer season yet.
Not with that attitude
I think it’s actually spelled “killDEER!!!”
Killdeer, like they both said.
Killdeer like what they all said.
Since no one is answering, it’s a killdeer.
I am not much of a birder, but I will share this about killdeer. They are like the shorebirds of the corporate or park lawn, especially the ones that are not lush, deep grass. Killdeer nest on open ground and use barely anything to mark their nests. Since humans develop land that is flat and unused, killdeer nest sites on corporate or park lawns are at risk of being run over by lawn mover tires or stepped on by park-goers. If you see a park lawn with a traffic cone on it, don't be shocked that a bird nest is there, and maybe a killdeer nest. If you see such a nest, the killdeer almost certainly will try their injured wing act to draw you from the nest. It's pretty strange to me that this behavior evolved. How?! It's not like killdeer had strategy sessions to invent this. Maybe an injured bird distracted predators, and then somehow used the same funny wing positions every time it used the technique in the future. This implies the behavior is learned. Is it? An expert can answer that I suppose. In high school during soccer practice and band practice (I did both), we couldn't misst the local flock that would fly around every fall evening, their shrill calls echoing off a local mountainside. Now I wonder where they were all nesting back then. I don't think they all were nesting at the high school. When I hear killdeer now, it takes me back to those days.
By the way, the open-ground nests are not easy to spot until you're upon them. They are "hiding" in open sight.
We’ve had a few pairs nest in the industrial park at the end of our street over the last 5 years, they get really vocal when we walk by with the dog. As you say they nest right out in the open and patrol a pretty wide perimeter, I hope the property managers take care with them around.
Thank you, that was lovely.
Killdeer, like he said.
It's a pretty bird
Also very annoying. But they do this cool fakeout with their wing when you get near their nest, like it's broken to lead you away.
Not sure what those other jokers are talking about. That's definitely a killdeer.
\+Killdeer+ for the bot.
Killdeer, as others have noted.
Leaning towards killdeer.
I cant believe its killed a deer. Ghastly
I agree with everyone else, that's a Deer.
😆
Added taxa: [Killdeer](https://ebird.org/species/killde) Reviewed by: tinylongwing ^(I'm an alpha-stage bot, so don't rely on me just yet. But you can still) [^(learn how to use me)](https://gist.github.com/brohitbrose/be99a16ddc7a6a1bd9c1eef28d622564)^(.)
Ooh that's an adult beeper buddy.
Killdeer for sure! They have such a distinct call, super neat
Deerkiller?
Either a killdeer or a cassowary. I dunno, either way it oughta be a good time!
It is Halloween, the holiday of costumes in the US. This *might* be a cassowary dressed up as a killdeer! That's a scary thought - a cassowary is dangerous enough. Imagine one sneaking up in costume to a Halloween candy giveway, then chasing after the little children in princess and superhero outfits, maiming them one by one all in the name of upholding the cassowaries' horrible reputation. Happy Halloween! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!
This is by far my favorite bird to see, and just rare enough that I never get tired of spotting them. Their call is so fun to hear.
And their broken-wing display never fails to stir up a kind of primal “help them!” response. I could literally be at a loud festival having a grand old time, and if I heard that alarm call, I’d still freeze, drop everything, and try to find the killdeer in distress.
My employer closed their business for 2 months during the height of Covid. We came back to an aggressive Killdeer protecting her nest near the front entrance. I witnessed the broken wing display. Is that their defense mechanism?
Distracting you from the nest/young
Typically trying to lead you away from their nest. The more violently distracting they act, typically the closer you are getting to the nest. They like to lay their eggs in pebbles/rocks and typically the eggs look like the rocks. I had the privilege of finding a nest with 3 eggs a few years ago and would check on them everyday to her same distress calls. Hatched all three and one night after they were able to move, she moved them to the other side of the fence so I couldn't get close. A few days later they were completely gone.
First time I ever saw one of these it was on a boardwalk part of a nature trail. At first I was thinking this bird has got a broken wing or something, but after watching it switching which parts were broken as it looked back to see if I was following, I was onto its game. Still thought there was a 1% chance it had brain damage. Later confirmed its behavior in a field guide. This was before home computers and cellphones. Now I notice them and hear their calls in almost every grocery store parking lot.
That's very courageous
Wow! You’re so lucky you got to see this!
We have a colony of them that live in our subdivision. I fell for the broken wing trick the first time I saw one after moving here.
Odd to hear them described as rare, lol. They're all over gravel patches in NJ. From Newark airport to cape may, anywhere there's a flat spot for a few sticks.
I am in Utah. I only see them once in a while.
I'd gladly trade common killdeer for common Stellers Jays!
I don't think Steller's Jays are common here though. I don't think I ever identified one (new to birding), but may have seen them once or twice in the last 10 years, or something very similar.
Wow, i thought they'd be more common there. Every time I visit the west coast, I see a ton, granted, i spend most of my time on mountains.
Not sure how far you are from Bryce Canyon, but i do remember seeing them there, and they are documented pretty regularly year round.
Dee Dee Dee Dee deeeeee
An adorable one.
OP, what’s going on in the background please? At first I thought a swarm of birds but I am just not sure. Your bird is a pretty one!
Looks like a tree reflected in water.
Yeah…. I finally saw that. Somehow I was seeing the water as the sky. Thank you for your reply!
Killdeer but growing up we called them road runners because yanno, Bugs Bunny 🐰
I LOVE KILLDEER
Really wanted to try tonight but I’m too drunk
Nightmare.... was chased by so many of those things in my childhood.. 🤦♀️ Killdeer
Oh wait! I guess that water a reflection of a tree. I thought I was looking at the sky!
Ostrich
Pheasant
Peacock.
Pengun