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View range map of Killdeer here.

The Killdeer is the most widespread American plover. This shorebird has adapted well to environments which have been altered by humans, and will nest in agricultural fields and parks. The Killdeer's long thin pink legs and two black neck bands make it easy to identify in parking lots and suburban neighborhoods throughout the United States. The Killdeer feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, especially earthworms, grasshoppers, beetles, and seeds. It runs along, stopping abruptly to pick at the ground, before bobbing its head and moving on again. The loud piercing call of the Killdeer is the origin of this bird's name. The Killdeer nest is just a scrape in the ground, where the female lays four clay colored eggs. In warm weather the pair may shade their eggs with their wings in order to prevent the onset of incubation before the clutch of eggs is complete. The eggs are incubated for about 24 days, by both parents. If the parents sense danger, one will perform the broken-wing distraction display to move the predator's attention away from the nest. The bird flaps on the ground and drags its wing pretending to be hurt, and so drawing the predator away from the vulnerable nest, by appearing to be an easier target. When the predator approaches the Killdeer flies away. The chicks are downy and active, and will leave the nest shortly after hatching. The parents do not feed them, but will lead them to food. They will stay closely together until the chicks can fly at 20-30 days of age. The Killdeer is vulnerable to pesticide poisoning and collisions with cars and buildings, because it nests close to human habitation, and often forages on lawns where chemicals are used.

View range map of American Avocet here.

The American Avocet is the only Avocet in the world which has an annual color change. The head and neck is rusty during the breeding season, light gray in winter plumage. The American Avocet has a distinctive, long recurved bill. It feeds on aquatic invertebrates, small fish and seeds, which it snaps up or captures by scything with its long bill. A specialist of temporary wetlands, the American Avocet nests on sparsely vegetated islands, in a simple scrape in the ground. The female lays 3-4 pinkish-buff eggs, which are incubated for about 24 days. In hot environments the parents cool the eggs by soaking their belly feathers in water before incubating and shade the nest by keeping the eggs covered at all times. The chicks are precocial and downy. They leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching. The chicks feed themselves, but are brooded by the parents for the first week of life. The female American Avocet may parasitize the nest of another female or the nests of Black-necked Stilts and Common Terns, by laying 1-4 additional eggs in the other bird's nest. Juveniles form flocks and may spend 1-3 weeks together before migrating. The wetlands used by American Avocets are frequently contaminated with agricultural run-off which has resulted in low hatching rates. Populations declined dramatically during the 1960s-70s as water from wetlands was diverted for human use. Selenium contamination caused developmental abnormalities, however since 1995 owners of these contaminated sites have been required to provide safe wetland habitat for American Avocets, and breeding success has greatly improved.

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View range map of Long-billed Curlew here.

The Long-billed Curlew is the largest (length 23") regularly occurring shorebird in North America. The Long-billed Curlew breeds in open country in the north eastern United States and south eastern Canada. The birds winter along the Gulf Coast, central California and South America. During the breeding season, the Long-billed Curlew eats insects. In winter it forages for crabs, mollusks and crayfish using its long bill to probe beneath the surface while walking. Like other curlew species, the Long-billed Curlew has a ringing call from which it gets its name. The nest is a scrape in the ground made by the male during courtship. The nest is lined with a variety of items including pebbles, grasses, droppings, twigs and stems. Four slightly greenish eggs are laid and both parents incubate. As soon as the chicks hatch, the adults remove the egg shells by flying in different directions away from the nest before dropping them. The chicks are precocial and able to feed themselves within hours of hatching. They are brooded by the parents for the first week and in hot weather the parents will shade the chicks until about two weeks of age. Overharvesting of the Long-billed Curlew during the period 1850-1916, when it was hunted during migration in large numbers, caused dramatic declines. While the Long-billed Curlew was not considered as desirable by market hunters as the now critically endangered (possibly extinct) Numenius borealis Eskimo Curlew, hunting pressure was still high, and the Long-billed Curlew is now considered vulnerable throughout its range. The loss of grassland breeding habitat is the greatest threat to this species today. Loss of wintering habitat is also a threat.

•  Subfamily Phalaropodinae- Phalaropes
• There are no flock members in this subfamily.

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• Subfamily Sterninae- Terns