356 



The Plover-like Birds 



of black, several of the species are known as Ring Plovers, among them the 

 European Ring Plover (M. hiaticula) of Europe and western Asia, which retires 

 to Africa and India in winter, and also occurring in Arctic America. They are 

 sociable little birds frequenting the seashore and the margins of lakes and rivers 

 in small parties, or in fall uniting into large flocks, and have a melodious, though 

 rather mournful, whistle. Their food consists of insects, worms, and small 

 crustaceans, and the nest is placed in a hollow in the sand above high water. 

 Smaller but otherwise quite similar is the Little Ring Plover (;E. dubia] of the 

 northern portions of the Eastern Hemisphere, and not far removed is the little 

 Piping Plover (M. meloda) of the shores of eastern North America, and the 

 Snowy Plover (^E. nivosa) of western North America. The Semipalmated 

 Plover (M. semipalmata}, which is sometimes removed to a separate genus 

 (Mgiats) on the ground that the outer toe is joined by a web to the middle 

 one, is found throughout North America, nesting in the far north and spend- 

 ing the winter in South America or the West Indies. It is described as a 

 rather silent bird, frequenting, usually in small parties, the salt marshes, sandy 

 beaches, and mud flats, left bare by the receding tide. Another of our species 

 is the Wilson's Plover (JEgialitis ivilsonia) of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 

 It is a gentle, quiet bird, frequenting exclusively the maritime beaches, and 

 having, according to Dr. Coues, a half-whistling, half-chirping note. 



Killdeer. One of the best-known of all North American Plovers is the 

 Killdeer (Oxyechus vociferus], which differs from the members of the last genus, 



with which, however, it is often 

 placed, by the much longer tail, 

 this being nearly two thirds as 

 long as the wing. It is grayish 

 brown above, with the runip 

 ochraceous, the forehead, a stripe 

 over the ear, chin, throat, a 

 collar around the hind neck and 

 the under parts white, while the 

 crown, a neck collar, and a broad 

 breast-band are black ; the length 

 is about ten and a" half inches. 

 The Killdeer is found throughout 

 the whole of temperate North 



America, whence it migrates in winter to Central and South America and the 

 West Indies. It is a noisy, restless bird, frequenting pastures, meadows, culti- 

 vated fields, and open prairie, often in the vicinity of water, and running rapidly 

 over the ground or taking to swift flight when disturbed. Its peculiar and oft- 

 repeated ringing note, resembling the words kill-dee, kill-dee, is heard constantly 

 wherever it is present, often even at night. It is suspicious and constantly on 

 the alert, especially during the breeding season, when it resents all intrusion, 

 and gives voice to loud vociferation. The nest is a mere hollow located in open 

 ground and lined often with a few grass stems; the eggs are the usual four. 



FIG. 118. Killdeer Plover, Oxyechus vociferus. 



