3^0 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



ist to the isth of March, usually passing north from the 15th to the 30th 

 of May, returning from the loth to the 30th of Jvily, and departing from the 

 ist to the 15th of November, rarely lingering into December or later. In 

 western New York it arrives from the 4th to the 20th of March and departs 

 about the last of October. 



Habits. The Killdeer, or Killdeer plover, is well known throughout 

 the country which drains into the Great Lakes, inhabiting the pastures, 

 newly plowed fields, and the shores of our lakes and streams. Its nest is 

 usually farther from water than that of the Spotted sandpiper and is often 

 found on upland fields, or pastures, a long distance from any stream. They 

 feed largely on grubs and grasshoppers, but are not seen in such grassy 

 fields as the Bartramian sandpiper. When a flock of killdeers are feeding, 

 they are in full view. Hence the close cropped pasture is their favorite 

 resort. They visit some bar or lake shore at night, or morning and evening, 

 to drink and feed and sport along the shore ; thus there is usually a regular 

 flight of kiUdeers two or three times a day between the fields and the water 

 side. They are noisy birds, keeping up a continual screaming and chattering 

 when at play. When flying also, they call kill-dee, kill-dee at frequent 

 intervals; and in the breeding season, the male circles around his chosen 

 fields with measured flight and incessant reiteration of his shrill voiced 

 love song. While flying about in sport they occasionally rush headlong 

 downward through the air, with quivering, swirling flight, uttering at the 

 same time a rattling torrent of high pitched notes. A similar vocal per- 

 formance is frequently executed when they are running along the ground, 

 visually with upstretched wings. This happens when several birds are 

 together, and is accompanied by a ducking and chasing about among the 

 troop, reminding one slightly of the intricate dances of the Brazilian lap- 

 wing, as described by Mr Hudson. 



The Killdeer runs nimbly and swiftly with its wings well folded above 

 its tail, the head gathered in, the tail straight and the whole body slightly 

 incHned forward. After proceeding a few yards it suddenly stops, stands 

 erect and looks about. Its food is seized with a ducking motion and swal- 

 lowed directly. As they feed almost entirely on insects which are injurious 



