The Killdeer is a medium-sized plover, 9.4–11 inches long with a wingspan of 18.5–22 inches. Adults have warm brown upperparts, a white belly, two bold black breast bands and a white forehead, and stand on long, pinkish legs. Their loud, ringing “kill-dee” call makes them unmistakable in flight or when foraging.
In Arizona, Killdeer are one of the most widespread shorebirds, occurring year-round across low-elevation deserts, grasslands, agricultural fields, vacant urban lots and the edges of lakes and streams. Breeding begins as early as late winter in the lower Sonoran Desert—pairs nest on bare or gravelly ground (even on flat rooftops)—and continues through July. Migrant flocks move through central and northern Arizona in spring and fall, often gathering at wetlands such as Alamo Lake, the Salt River and Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. They feed by sight, running in short bursts and stopping to peck terrestrial insects, worms and crustaceans from open ground. Their bold, inquisitive behavior and tolerance of human-modified landscapes make them one of the easiest shorebirds to observe—and photograph—in the state.
