Sharesloth
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Killdeer chicks are precocial which means they are born with their eyes open, all their feathers and will immediately start scurrying around looking for food. Parents will fake wing injuries and lure potential predators away from the young if they are threatened.
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That’s pretty cool. I was on a run with a buddy and saw a killdeer screaming on the ground. He told me what kind of bird she was but I assumed she really was sick or injured. Must’ve worked, I didn’t see any chicks
Love watching killdeers do the fake injury thing and dupe hawks in our field.
They must have some massive balls when first born as well
It’s a cotton ball with legs
They also sing the sweetest peep peep peep songs all together in big family groups at night!!
It’s like humans singing around the campfire!
Source: lived on a waterfront wildlife sanctuary where they nested.
We had a killdeer make a nest in the middle of our driveway. We ended up putting cones around the nest to make sure we didnt accidentally back up into the wrong spot. The part about them faking to be hurt is 100% true. But as we got *too* close to the nest to lay the cones, it started come after us and screeching really loud.
It’s cool and fun as heck. They were in our horse field every year, always running everywhere. When you get close they really do start flopping around and making noise. Loved them, and their call.
Precocious little scamps
One time, my husband and I were out doing some yard work and these two adult killdeer were making an awful lot of noise. Running around, squawking, flapping their wings. I thought this was odd, so we stopped and watched them for a minute and I said, “something is wrong” and walked over by where they were.
I looked into our window well and at the bottom was a baby killdeer! The parents were trying to get our attention!
My husband got the ladder and climbed down, scooped up the bird and put it on the grass. The little family started chirping and hopping around. We saw them a while later in the backyard dancing around in the sprinklers to celebrate their happy little reunion. They’re so cute!
What kind of giraffe is this?
happy cake day!
So basically they’re never not cute?
We had these in the field behind our house growing up. The faking injury was really cool to see; really effective too. Never ended up finding their nests cuz we let well enough alone
There is a killdeer couple that nests in our backyard every summer. They also bop their heads when they chirp. They’re cute, goofy little things.
After 34 years of life, I stubbled upon a nest in the yard at our shop.
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mom was not happy…. I gave her lots of room though.
I don’t know why, but I thought it would end in “parents will fake injuries so they wouldn’t have to fly with them”
We had some on our terrain. The mom does an annoying sound to lure potential predators away from the chicks.
Aww, that fact about the parents is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Or maybe my hormones are talking.
I don’t think that thing can kill deer.
Is that a feature of parental behaviour for all precocial birds?
Happy cake day!
I grew up with these fellers in the greenbelt next to my house, my friends and I would feed and raise ones with no parents around and we’d help them learn to fly by throwing them like footballs. Raising was effective without any casualties
That tiny tail on that fluffy butt is killing me!
Happy cake day
God the call they make when they lose a baby is so sad and annoying. For about 3 days they just call and call.
Happy cake day.
Lapwing?
my parents always have killdeer nesting in the driveway. sometimes we would move the eggs so they wouldn’t get run over.
Incredible birds! I used to save them from sludge beds all the time when I was at the sewer plant. We would bring them in the lab and scrub them down with Dawn. Moms did the broken wing thing and were always pissed save for one. She was to exhausted. But she made it!
What the hell kinda name is a killdeer? Is this some kind of plover, but in freedom hamburger units? hahaha
As many killdeer as I’ve seen, I cannot say I’ve seen a baby one. Cute ball of fluff
[Immediately came to mind.](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44605201)
Happy Cake Day.
🎂🎉🎊❤️
It looks like its wearing a hat