188 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



As a fall migrant we may expect this species quite generally 

 along the coast from the middle of August until October, while 

 inland at this season it is apt to occur locally. It does not 

 seem to be common anywhere now though formerly the species 

 occurred locally quite abundantly some seasons. There seem 

 to be no available records to indicate its occurrence in spring. 



Though usually found in flocks of its own kind it is not 

 unusual to find mixed flocks of both the Black-bellied Plover 

 and this species, especially during the feeding time, when they 

 occur along the muddy shores, on the half tide ledges and in 

 similar localities. I have however found this species frequent- 

 ing fields and similar places inland where the Black-bellied 

 Plover would not seemingly think of feeding. 



The species in question is very noisy when on the wing 

 and keeps a constant whistled "koodel, koodel, koodel" when 

 approaching a spot on which they plan to alight. When feed- 

 ing their quick actions are the same as those of the Black-bel- 

 lied species and they eat the same kinds of material. The 

 nest is similar to that of the other species in being unworthy 

 of the name. The four eggs are buffy drab to whitish, spotted 

 and blotched with brown and black. An egg measures 1.87 

 X 1.25. 



Genus OXYECHUS Reichenbach. 



273. \ Oxyechus vocifertis (Linn.). Killdeer. 



Plumage of adults : crown and back grayish brown ; rump and upper tail 

 coverts nifous; white spot behind each eye; the forehead, throat, ring 

 around neck, breast band, lower breast and belly white; front of crown, 

 lores, neck ring and breast band black ; middle tail feathers grayish, outer 

 ones rufous and white, all white and black tipped. Immature plumage: 

 differs in having rufous margins to some of the back feathers above, other- 

 wise similar. Wing 6.25 to 6.70 ; culmen 0.78 ; tarsus 1.40. 



Geog. Dist. — Temperate North America north to Newfoundland and Man- 

 itoba, breeding throughout its range ; winters from Virginia and the lower 

 Mississippi to the West Indies and northern South America. 



County Records — Androscoggin; (Pike). Cumberland; rare, (Brock). 

 Franklin; rare migrant, (Sweet). Knox; rare migrant, (Rackliff). 



