Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

This is a recently hatched chick showing only a single neck band, a pattern suggesting the related Semipalmated Plover. This downy plumage lasts for less than two weeks after which the immatures more closely resemble adults. The Killdeer is one of the most widespread and familiar of the North American shorebirds. It breeds across much of the continent, choosing gravel bars when available. But it has become well adapted to nesting on roadsides, golf course edges and even tar & gravel rooftops. They are noisy alarmists, frequently stirring up anxiety among all the other birds for no apparent reason. Thus the specific name "vociferus." North American birds are the largest and assigned to the race C. v. vociferus. Two smaller races occur in the West Indies and South America.