Mystery No More - Killdeer

[yourlibrarian]

I'm fairly sure I saw this bird swooping over our lake, possibly eating insects. It was hard to get a clear picture of it as it kept walking around and didn't stay standing long. Does anyone have any idea what it is?





I'd say it was about the size of a blue jay.

Comments

[left_turns]

Killdeer!

[yourlibrarian]

Sure looks like it, alright, thanks! I have never seen one around before and it's been quite some time that we've been living here. However, in looking at that link I realized they have been around before. Years ago I came across one of their nests in a parking lot. I even have a photo of it and I always wondered what bird had laid them.

[left_turns]

I thought for a long time that they were lake/shore birds, since, you know, plover. But apparently they get everywhere. I used to live in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio, and you had to look out for them crossing the highway between ridges, since the little twits would just dash out in front of your car.

[steorra]

It reminds me of a plover of some kind although I'm not confident. Knowing the general geographic location might help narrow things down.

[steorra]

Ah, I see you have a more confident and specific answer above now!

[yourlibrarian]

Yep, but thanks! There can always be different guesses. I noticed when linking the nest photo above that apparently I'd been told at the time that those were Piper eggs, but I think this is the culprit family here.