Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus (Linnaeus, 1758) KL KILLD 4740
Family: Charadriiformes > Charadriidae

A larger version of the Ringed Plover, but with a double breast band, the Killdeer is an almost annual visitor from North America.

To stop cows and horses trampling its nest, the Killdeer fluffs itself up, displays its tail over its head, and runs at the beast in an attempt to make it change its path.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Killdeer

• Breeding
• Winter

333 records

BTO RECORDS

-71.4% Contraction

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

333 records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

BOU Category	A
First Record	Dorset, 1859

DISTRIBUTION

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

• 

• 

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

No. occupied in winter	2
% occupied in winter	0.07

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

--71.4%

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Killdeer, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

BIOMETRICS

Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

Field Codes

2-letter: KL | 5-letter code: KILLD | Euring: 4740

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Cwtiad Torchog Mawr

Catalan: corriol cua-roig

Czech: kulík rezavoocasý

Danish: Kildire

Dutch: Killdeerplevier

Estonian: kilatüll

Finnish: amerikantylli

French: Pluvier kildir

German: Keilschwanz-Regenpfeifer

Hungarian: ékfarkú lile

Icelandic: Skræklóa

Irish: Feadóg Ghlórach

Italian: Corriere vocifero

Latvian: skalais tartinš

Lithuanian: balsingasis kirlikas

Norwegian: Tobeltelo

Polish: sieweczka krzykliwa

Portuguese: borrelho-de-coleira-dupla

Slovak: kulík kriklavý

Slovenian: kildir

Spanish: Chorlitejo culirrojo

Swedish: skrikstrandpipare