Killdeer

Description:

A large bird from the Plover family. They are tri-colored with brown wings, top of head and top of tail. there are two dark black stripes high up on the breast and another slender one from the corners of the beak under the eye and around to the other side. There is another black stripe on the forehead between the eyes.

Habitat:

These were seen in the parking area of the Swan Restoration Project, a small lake north of Storm Lake, IA that has a few Trumpeter Swans I check on whenever I am in the area. These killdeer were a bonus.

Notes:

I saw these often as a kid and "finally" learned that when they ran away with a "broken wing," it was futile to chase them. Once I was far enough away from the nest, they miraculously "healed." Beautiful birds that move by running a few stops at a time and have a beautiful call.