THE KILLDEER 485 



uniform black. In September they return in full winter plumage, and now 

 frequent the gravelly and muddy borders of streams, sometimes in large 

 flocks and sometimes in pairs or as single birds, solitary or in company with 

 Tattlers and Sandpipers. At this season their habits are less active than 

 in spring. They are the only birds of the family whose size, abundance, 

 and other qualities entitle them to any consideration as a game bird. As 

 such they are generally esteemed." 



The Golden Plover is to be accounted an abundant bird in many parts of 

 the Arctic regions, especially on the Barren Grounds. McFarlane recorded 

 the finding of one hundred and fourteen sets of eggs during the passage of 

 his expedition from the edge of the northern woods across the Barren 

 Grounds to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. During the breeding season 

 the male "is accustomed to utter a sweet melodious song, most frequently 

 heard during the brief hours of the Arctic night." Nelson represents this 

 song by the syllables, "tee-lee-lee, tu-lee-lee-wit , wit wit, wee-u-wit, chc lee 

 n too Icc-e." 



NO. 220. 



KILLDEER. 



A. O. U. No. 273. Oxyechus vociferus (Linn.). 



Synonyms. KILDEER ; KILDEE PLOVER ; KILDEE. 



Description. Adult: Crown, and occiput and back bright grayish brown, 

 the feathers edged or narrowly tipped with tawny; rump and upper tail-coverts 

 cinnamon-rufous or tawny ; tail like back, crossed subterminally by broad black 

 band, and tipped with lighter brown, ochraceous, and white, the lateral feathers 

 irregularly dusky, white and tawny ; primaries dusky, the outer with some white 

 on the inner webs, and the inner ones with white on the outer webs; two black 

 bands across chest, the anterior one nearly reaching around cervix; a band on 

 forehead, separating the white and brown, and another across cheek from bill, 

 impure black ; included spaces of head and neck, a ring around cervix, and re- 

 maining under parts pure white ; the brown of back encroaching on sides of breast 

 between black bars, and sometimes suffusing entire space between them; eye-lids 

 bright orange-red ; bill black ; legs pale. Young : With rather more ochraceous 

 or pale rusty edging on back than adult. Length 9.00-11.25 (228.6-285.8) ; wing 

 6.34 (161.) ; tail 3.59 (91.2) ; bill .81 (20.6) ; tarsus 1.41 (35.8). 



Recognition Marks. Robin size; black and white bands of head and breast; 

 tawny rump ; vociferous "Kildeer" cries. 



Nest, on the ground, often upon gravel, unlined. Eggs, 4, ovate-pyriform, 

 buffy white or clay-color, boldly spotted and blotched or scrawled with chocolate- 

 brown or brownish black. Av. size, 1.48 x 1.06 (37-6 x 26.9). 



