Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Killdeer adult playing wounded

Charadrius vociferus

Description:

This adult killdeer put on quite the acting job when I got near its baby. Adults try to draw you away by acting wouned with a broken wing. They act like an easy target to a predator, but if you start geting close to them they fly off a short distance and start acting again, each time taking you futher from their nest or babies.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

7 Comments

DonnaBollenbach
DonnaBollenbach 11 years ago

Great series. I have discovered many a nest by birds exhibiting similar behavior. After knowing where the nest is, I was able to view and photograph it from a distance (with a long lens) so as to not disturb the bird. It is amazing how well those ground nests are camouflaged. Even the chicks are the same color as the ground where they are born.

Jack Settle
Jack Settle 11 years ago

I've only photographed one killdeer before, and I didn't have my zoom lens then. Haha nice pics, very cool!

ChristyHolland
ChristyHolland 11 years ago

Beautiful shots! This act is worthy of an award! I've seen one do it to a bus! (the bus did behave...it was a tour bus). ;-)

Jolly Ibañez
Jolly Ibañez 11 years ago

Nice pictures. I would definitely enjoy taking these shots myself.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

awesome.

GregMasteller
GregMasteller 11 years ago

They really do deserve an Oscar for their acting abilities. A fun treat to see in real life.

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 11 years ago

Nice series of an interesting behavior --thanks for this spotting.

GregMasteller
Spotted by
GregMasteller

Ohio, USA

Spotted on Apr 19, 2012
Submitted on Apr 19, 2012

Spotted for Mission

Related Spottings

Killdeer Ringed Plover Greater Sand Plover Greater Sand Plover

Nearby Spottings

Ring Necked Pheasant Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Killdeer (baby) Tree Swallow
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team