The Killdeer 



By Alexander Wilson 



This restless and noisy bird is known to almost every inhabitant of the 

 United States, being a common and pretty constant resident. During the sever- 

 ity of winter, when snow covers the ground, it retreats to the seashore, where 

 it is found at all seasons ; but no sooner have the rivers broken up than its shrill 

 note is again heard, either roamnig about high in air, tracing the shore of the 

 river, or running amid the watery flats and meadows. As spring advances it 

 resorts to the newly plowed fields, or level plains of bare grass, interspersed 

 with shallow pools ; or in the vicinity of the sea, in dry bare sandy fields. In 

 some such situation it generally chooses to lay its eggs, about the beginning of 

 May. The nest is usually slight, a mere hollow, with such materials drawn in 

 around it as happen to be near. In one instance I found the nest of this bird 

 paved with fragments of clam and oyster shells, and very neatly surrounded 

 with a mound or border of the same, placed in a very close and curious manner. 

 Tn some cases there is no vestige whatever of a nest. 



The eggs are usually four, of a bright rich cream or yellowish clay color, 

 thickly marked with blotches of black. They are large for the size of the bird, 

 measuring more than an inch and a half in length, and a full inch in width, 

 tapering to a narrow point at one end. 



Nothing can exceed the alarm and anxiety of these birds during the nesting 

 season. Their cries of killdeer, killdeer, as they winnow the air overhead, dive, 

 and course around you, or run along the ground counterfeiting lameness, are 

 shrill and incessant. The moment they see a person approach, they fly or run 

 to attack him with their harassing clamor, continuing it over so wide an extent 

 of ground that they puzzle the pursuer as to the particular spot where the nest 

 or young are concealed. In this respect they very much resemble the Lapwing 

 of Europe. 



During the evening and long after dusk, particularly on moonlight nights, 

 their cries are frequently heard, both in the spring and fall. From this circum- 

 stance, and from their flying about both after dusk and before dawn, it appears 

 probable that they see better at such times than most of their tribe. They are 

 known to feed much on worms, many of which rise to the surface of the ground 

 during the night. 



The Killdeer is more abundant in the Southern states in winter than in 

 summer. Among the rice fields and even around the planters' yards, I observed 

 them very numerous during J""ebruary and March. Their flight is something 

 like that of the Tern, but more vigorous ; and they sometimes rise to a great 

 height in the air. They are fond of wading in pools of water, and frequently 

 bathe themselves during the summer. They usually stand erect on their legs, 



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