SHORE BIRDS 
273. Killdeer. Oxyechus vociferus. 
Range. — Temperate North America from the 
southern parts of Canada southward. Next to the 
Spotted Sandpiper, this bird is the most common 
of the shore birds in the United States. It is 
rarely seen in New England, but is common south 
of there and in the interior of the country to Can- 
ada. 
They are very noisy birds, continually uttering 
their “kil-deer, kil-deer” from which they take 
Grayish buff. 
their name. They nest anywhere on the ground, 
generally near water, placing their nests in fields, 
cornfields or meadows. The eggs are drab or 
greenish buff and profusely spotted with black. 
Size 1.50 x 1.10. Data. — Refugio county, Texas, 
May 11, 1899. 4 eggs in a depression on the 
ground, lined with a few grasses. 
274. Semipalmated. 
JEgialitis semipalmata. 
Range. — North America, breeding in the inter- 
ior of Canada and wintering south from the Gulf 
States. 
Kildeer. 
Semi-palmated Plover. 
Small web between the bases of the two outer 
toes. Single broad, black band across the breast; 
black line from base of bill to eye. They are very 
abundant on our seacoast in Fall, both in flocks 
composed entirely of their own kind, and also 
with Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. They 
usually keep on the inner side of sandbars or 
muddy flats bordering marshes, rather than on the 
open ocean beach. It is also found in smaller 
flocks, about ponds and marshes in the interior of 
the country. They are usually unsuspicious and will allow a close approach, or 
if you are still, will run by within a very few feet. Nest on the ground; eggs 
huffy, sparsely specked with black, 1.30 x.90; June. 
Buff 
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