Definition & Meaning of "killdeer"

What is a "killdeer"?

A Killdeer is a medium-sized plover bird that is commonly found in open fields, meadows, and shorelines across North and South America. It has a distinctive appearance, with brownish upperparts and white underparts, along with two black bands around its neck and a black band across its breast. One of the most recognizable features of the Killdeer is its call, which sounds like its name and is often heard as it flies overhead or runs along the ground. Killdeers are known for their unique nesting habits, as they often lay their eggs on the ground, usually in a small depression or hollow. The parents use a variety of distraction displays to lure predators away from their nest, such as pretending to have a broken wing and running away from the nest.