Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus

Year-round in CharlotteCommon

The take

The shorebird that decided gravel lots and ballfields count as shore.

How to ID it

  • Brownish-tan above and white below with two black bands across the white chest
  • Slender, lanky plover with a large round head, large eye, and short bill
  • Runs a few steps, stops to look, then runs on; circles overhead calling repeatedly when disturbed

Field marks at a glance

Size
medium
Head
brown with black-and-white face patches
Call
piercing kill-deer, kill-deer

Where & when

Year-round in Charlotte

Learn more

Sources