When it comes to the status of a particular bird species, it’s not always black and white. Take the killdeer (which happens to be black, brown, and white). At first glance our Breeding Bird Atlas 2 reports that this distant cousin of the piping plover is widespread and likely increasing.
Good news, right? Not so fast. Dig deeper into the data and the killdeer is showing signs of trouble. It may have increased its breeding range in many parts of the state, but other regions showed worrisome decline, which suggests the beginning of widespread declines. This goes along with news of killdeer population declines that we’ve been hearing beyond Massachusetts. 
Why We Love Killdeer
- They are super clever: the killdeer distracts predators by pretending to have a broken wing.
- Their babies are ridiculously cute.
- They love the suburbs. In fact, they are often found in open fields like those used for sports or playgrounds.
How to Help Killdeer
- Spread the word by sharing our Quick Guide.
- Give nests plenty of space.
- Keep dogs on leashes when near nests.
Have you seen any killdeer recently? If so, share where and when in the comments!
Photo © Richard Johnson
We see them at the Morrison Farm Community Garden in Acton.
In Carver on the Middleboro line. They are so cute, I love seeing them running around!
See them in Belchertown every year for the past 20+ years. Have up to 3 nesting pairs, a gathering of up to 40 birds every fall. Love to watch them as I’m working, keep me entertained every day!
They are regulars in Charlton MA .they nest on a stone covered ledge outside the window of the building were I work and every year we are able to enjoy them as they run the wall of the ledge with there adorable little ones camouflage in the stones. Several have already showed up this year .
I have seen and heard quite a few of these entertaining birds, over the last few weeks (as we usually do this time of year) in the field at the old Myricks airport on Paddleford st and the agricultural fields on Myricks st(Rt 79) in Berkley . Also have seen a couple walking around in the back dirt parking lot of the Dunkin donuts intersection of County St and Rt 79 Berkley.
They are regularly at the Granite Links golf course which has large expanses of open grass that is not mowed. This area is also great for snow bunting in winter (lareg flocks) and indigo buntings around the quarries in summer. Lots of water birds at the open manmade ponds adjacent to the Blue Hills reservation.
Saw a killdeer 3 weeks ago in the playing field in front of Brookline High School
These birds have been regulars for years on the grassy areas of the Taunton Municipal Airport.
I love those guys, they live in the cemeteries up the street
I also get to see their cousins (the endangered piping plover) whenever I go to the beach, which will be a couple months from now