Two Feathers wrote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killdeer
I got this on line and it shows the nesting and eggs and more info.
Thanks, Two Feathers. I'll keep looking for the nest. Luckily there's not a lot of activity at my house!
AuntieM wrote:
Kildeer. Your last photo shows the two black bands on the breast which cements the identification. They are in the Plover family and are very common throughout the US. They are found in fields and pastures and often far from water. The Chukar is a member of the Quail family and looking like a quail.
Thanks, Auntie M. Actually, I've seen these before but always in a riparian area, not on a totally desertscape. Interesting!
killdeer. Spell correct got me
AzPicLady wrote:
I have a strange bird that has been living at my house for about a month. S/He looks like something that might better live in a pond or lake instead of in a desert location. Does anyone know what s/he is? THANKS!
That looks like a killdeer.
I'm just a bit of a birder wanna be but I am good with Google! I wonder if your Killdeer has a nest nearby. They lay their eggs pretty much out in the open.
It is definitely a Killdeer. They nest on the ground and use that broken wing tactic to draw predators Away from the nest. We have lots of them here in KY
vicksart
Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country
It looks like a Kildeer to me, too. Nice shots.
Cwilson341 wrote:
I'm just a bit of a birder wanna be but I am good with Google! I wonder if your Killdeer has a nest nearby. They lay their eggs pretty much out in the open.
I've decided I'm going to walk (carefully) around the yard looking for them. I assume the bird would probably be somewhere near the nest. Trouble is, I haven't seen him yesterday or today! But he's usually out in front.
It is definitely Killdeer. They nest on the ground and the second image is showing the momma bird acting like she is in distress leading you away from the nest.
optic
Loc: Southwestern United States
Your bird is a Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), a member of the Plover family. Not a stranger to Arizona --or most anywhere else in North America. They nest on open ground, sometimes even parking lots or gravel roofs. The latin name is accurate. Killdeer can be quite noisy. They regularly practice a behavior which perhaps you will see; described here thanks to Wikipedia: The "broken-wing act", used to distract predators from their nests. This involves the bird limping away from its nesting area holding its wing in a position that simulates an injury and then flapping around on the ground emitting a distress call. The predators then think they have easy prey and are attracted to this seemingly injured bird and away from the nest. If the parent sees that a potential predator is not following them, they will move closer and get louder until they get the attention of the predator. This is repeated until the predator is far from the nest, and the killdeer suddenly "heals" and flies away.
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