78 LIMICOL^E: Shore-Birds 



CHARADRIID.E (Family Plovers): Generally of more ro- 

 bust form than the Sandpipers; bills thicker, shorter than 

 head; three-toed or with rudiment only of a fourth toe. 



KILLDEER 



(273. Oxyechus vociferus) 10 in. 



Gray-brown above, with rusty rump and tail-coverts (con- 

 spicuous in taking flight) , and white wing-bar. The black collar 

 and black chest-band, and its oft repeated call of " kill-dee," or 

 " kill-deer," identify the bird anywhere. 



No other of the Plovers has so adapted itself to civilization as 

 this one. which, worthless as game, is at home wherever agri- 

 culture is carried on. 



SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 



(274. Charadrius semipalmatus) 7 in. 



Male: In general appearance a small Killdeer with one black 

 collar, no rusty on upper tail, and very short bill. Back and 

 wings gray-brown. 



Female and winter male: Black markings less distinct, brown- 

 ish. Immature: Like winter adults, but gray-edged above. 



A handsome, clean-cut bird, as notably quiet as the Killdeer 

 is noisy. 



SNOWY PLOVER 



(278. Charadrius nivosus) 6 in. 



Hind-neck, back, and wings pale ashy gray; otherwise black 

 and white. Black markings on head and neck are conspicuous 

 and distinctive in breeding-season; at other seasons they are 

 obscured by brownish or gray. 



Young: Back feathers white-edged; no black. 



Feeds extensively on insects, back from water's edge, where, 

 amid the debris cast up by the waves, it is almost invisible. 



