Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Killdeer Display – Sorry to Disturb You
Last week I was walking down a deserted road next to the WAAAM for a closer look at Mt. Hood
when I saw a Killdeer by the side of the road put on quite a display.
I’m not exactly sure who the show was for. Was it a mating call? Another Killdeer did show up shortly thereafter. Or was I the intruder, to be driven away from a nest in the grass?
“The parents use various methods to distract predators during the breeding season. One method is the “broken-wing display”, also known as “injury feigning”. Before displaying, it usually runs from its nest, making alarm calls and other disturbances. When the bird has the attention of the predator, the former turns its tail towards the latter, displaying the threatening orange color of the rump. It then crouches, droops its wings, and lowers its tail, which is more common for them.” Wikipedia, Killdeer
So sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. Please carry on.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Excellent photos!
Thank you so much! I was happy to see this handsome bird, though I’m sorry if I disturbed him or her!
I guess you got too close to its nest. They are so well camouflaged, you probably wouldn’t have seen it!
Yes. It must have been in the narrow strip of grass next to the road. It was so interesting to see, but I was sorry to have disturbed it!
Killdeer are such wonderful little actors — that broken-wing routine is heartbreakingly convincing until you realize it’s all a bluff to pull you away from the nest. Your instinct to feel sorry and back off says a lot; those roadside gravel nests are so exposed. And what a spot to catch it, with Mt. Hood right there in view.
Thank you. It really was a treat, though I wasn’t sure what the behavior was until I looked it up later. Smart little birds looking out for their nest!
Great photos Susanne. Your killdeer put on quite a show and for good reason too.
Thanks, Graham. I rarely see killdeers, and I’ve never seen any bird put on a show like that.
That’s an interesting display indeed. I have never heard of that bird, so I doubt we have them here.
Best wishes, Pete.
It really was an interesting display! I wasn’t sure exactly what all the fuss was about until I looked it up later. Very effective!
What an amazing thing to encounter! Thanks for sharing the experience with us 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it, Sarah. The killdeer put on a very effective diplay!
Fantastic photos! How cool to come upon that display! I bet it made your day!
Thank you so much! It was so interesting to witness, though I was sorry to have disturbed that sweet killdeer! I’d never seen that kind of display before.
I’d never heard of these birds until now!
I’ve only seen them before on Hood Canal so I as surprised to see them in a grassy area. They put on quite a display to keep me away from their nest!