killdeers
Broken-wing faking birds
Killdeers is the plural of killdeer, a North American plover known for its piercing two-syllable call that sounds like its name.
These shorebirds are commonly found in fields, lawns, and parking lots rather than near water.
They're famous for their broken-wing display, feigning injury to lure predators away from their nests: A pair of killdeers nested in our gravel driveway.
Coastal bird species
- ploverCompact coastal wading bird
- waderShallow-water walker
- ringedEncircled by bands
- brownDark earth tone
white · tan · ornithology · birdwatching · identification · field guide · migratory · North America
Feigned injury to divert predators
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- feigning injuryPretending to be hurt
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
alarm call · territorial · aggressive · vigilant · protective · parenting · instinct · survival
Treeless herb-covered ecosystem
- meadowGrassy field for grazing
- fieldArea of specialty
- pastureGrazing ground for livestock
- shorelineLand-water boundary
mudflat · gravel · parking lot · rooftop · farmland · lawn · golf course · athletic field
Rub harshly against
- pebblesSmall water-smoothed stones
- gravelLoose small rock fragments
- stonesSmall hard earth fragments
- clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
incubation · hatchling · downy chick · brooding · exposed · vulnerable · unlined · speckled eggs
shorebird
Coastal bird species
brown · white · tan · ornithology · birdwatching · identification · field guide · migratory · North America · breeding
broken-wing display
Feigned injury to divert predators
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- feigning injuryPretending to be hurt
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
decoy · alarm call · territorial · aggressive · vigilant · protective · parenting · instinct · survival · evasion
grassland
Treeless herb-covered ecosystem
shoreline · mudflat · gravel · parking lot · rooftop · farmland · lawn · golf course · athletic field · riverbank
scrape
Rub harshly against
clutch · incubation · hatchling · downy chick · brooding · exposed · vulnerable · unlined · speckled eggs · pyriform