Many birds, including American robins and killdeer, often lay their eggs in grass or grassy areas for camouflage and protection from predators.
If you’ve ever stumbled upon eggs nestled in an open grassy area, you’ve likely found a killdeer nest. These remarkable shorebirds have adapted to lay eggs directly on the ground, often choosing surprising locations like lawns, gravel roads, and even parking lots. Their nesting habits make them one of nature’s most fascinating ground-nesting birds.
The Killdeer’s Unique Nesting Behavior
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) belong to the plover family but frequently nest far from water. Unlike most birds that build elaborate nests, killdeer simply scrape a shallow depression in the ground, sometimes lining it with small stones or bits of shell. This minimal approach to nesting serves them well in their preferred open habitats.
Why Killdeer Choose Open Areas
Killdeer select bare or sparsely vegetated ground for several reasons:
- Better visibility to spot approaching predators
- Warmer ground temperatures help incubate eggs
- Access to their preferred diet of insects and invertebrates
- Ability to use their famous “broken wing” distraction display
Identifying Killdeer Eggs
Killdeer eggs have distinct characteristics that help with identification:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Color | Buff or cream-colored with dark brown or black markings |
| Shape | Oval with pointed ends |
| Size | About 1.5 inches long |
| Clutch Size | Typically 4 eggs, sometimes 3-5 |
The speckled pattern provides excellent camouflage against gravel and bare ground. If you’re interested in observing birds from a distance, consider long-range binoculars for bird watching to avoid disturbing nesting sites.
The Killdeer’s Clever Defense Strategies
Killdeer have developed remarkable behaviors to protect their ground nests:
The Broken Wing Act
When predators approach, adult killdeer will feign injury, dragging a wing as if broken while moving away from the nest. This dramatic performance often lures threats to follow the “injured” bird rather than discover the eggs.
Distraction Displays
Parents may also use other distraction techniques like puffing up feathers, calling loudly, or pretending to settle on an imaginary nest site.
Aggressive Defense
As a last resort, killdeer will dive at intruders or use their sharp beaks to peck at threats. Their scientific name “vociferus” refers to their loud, persistent alarm calls when defending nests.
Other Ground-Nesting Birds to Know
While killdeer are the most common birds to lay eggs directly in grass, several other species share this behavior:
Meadowlarks
These songbirds create dome-shaped nests in tall grasses, with a side entrance for protection.
Bobolinks
They weave grassy nests directly on the ground in hayfields and meadows.
Nighthawks
Related to nightjars, they lay eggs on bare ground or gravel without any nest structure.
For observing these elusive ground nesters, image-stabilized binoculars can provide steady viewing without disturbing the birds.
Protecting Ground Nests in Your Yard
If you discover a killdeer nest in your lawn or driveway:
- Mark the area with flags or string to avoid accidental disturbance
- Keep pets and children away from the nesting site
- Avoid mowing or driving near the nest until chicks have fledged (about 25 days after hatching)
- Don’t attempt to move the eggs – this is illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
According to the National Audubon Society, killdeer populations remain stable, though they face threats from habitat loss and pesticide use that reduces their insect food sources.
The Killdeer Life Cycle
Understanding the killdeer’s breeding timeline helps explain their nesting choices:
Early Arrivals
Killdeer are among the first migrants to return north in spring, often appearing in February or March.
Quick Development
Chicks hatch after 24-28 days of incubation and can run and feed themselves within hours. This precocial development is crucial for ground-nesting birds.
Multiple Broods
In southern parts of their range, killdeer may raise 2-3 broods per year, extending the nesting season into summer.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes that killdeer chicks stay with their parents for several weeks after hatching, learning to forage before becoming independent. Their comprehensive killdeer profile offers more details on their fascinating behavior.
