SHORE BIRDS 



273. KiLLDEER. Oxyechus vociferus. 



Range. — Temperate North America from the 

 southern parts of Canada southward. Next to the 

 Spotted Sandpiper, this bird is the most common 

 of the shore birds in the United States. It is 

 rarely seen in New England, but is common south 

 of there and in the interior of the country to Can- 

 ada. 



They are very noisy birds, continually uttering 

 their "kil-deer, kil-deer" from which they take 



Grayish buff. 



their name. They nest anywhere on the ground, 

 generally near water, placing their nests in fields, 

 cornfields or meadows. The eggs are drab or 

 greenish buff and profusely spotted with black. 

 Size 1.50 X 1.10. Data. — Refugio county, Texas, 

 May 11, 1899. 4 eggs in a depression on the 

 ground, lined with a few grasses. 



274. Semipalmated. 



Mgialitis semipalmata. 



Range. — North America, breeding in the inter- 

 ior of Canada and wintering south from the Gulf 

 States. 



Kildeer. 

 Semi-palmated Plover. 



Small web between the bases of the two outer 

 toes. Single broad, black band across the breast; 

 black line from base of bill to eye. They are very 

 abundant on our seacoast in Fall, both in flocks 

 composed entirely of their own kind, and also 

 with Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. They 

 usually keep on the inner side of sandbars or 

 muddy flats bordering marshes, rather than on the 

 open ocean beach. It is also found in smaller 

 flocks, about ponds and marshes in the interior of 

 the country. They are usually unsuspicious and will allow a close approach, or 

 if you are still, will run by within a very few feet. Nest on the ground; eggs 

 huffy, sparsely specked with black, 1.30x.90; June. 



Buff 



165 



