Killdeer
Killdeer
$595A beautifully detailed Killdeer shorebird hand carved from basswood and painted with acrylics in realistic plumage. Features the distinctive double black breast bands, reddish-brown cap, red eye-ring, and glass eyes. Each feather is individually painted with soft brushstrokes. Mounted on a natural Black Walnut hardwood base with hand-made sand and pebble elements.
Details
- Dimensions
- 8" × 4" × 6.75"
- Materials
- Basswood, acrylic paint, glass eyes, Black Walnut base
- Category
- shorebird
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The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Identification
The Killdeer is a large plover, 8–11 inches long, easy to identify by two clean black breast bands on a white belly — the only North American plover with two bands (Wilson's, Semipalmated, and Piping plovers all have one). The back is brown, the throat white, and a black-and-white facial pattern frames bright red eye rings. In flight, a long pointed tail and rusty-orange rump flash distinctively. Juveniles look almost identical to adults but with one breast band initially, growing the second within weeks. The call — a loud, clear "kill-deeer" — is the source of the name and one of the most recognizable bird calls in North America.
Range & Migration
Year-round resident across most of the contiguous United States and into Mexico; summer breeding range extends through southern Canada. Northern populations migrate south for winter. Killdeer are one of the most widely distributed shorebirds in the Americas.
Habitat
Almost anywhere with open ground and short vegetation: gravel parking lots, athletic fields, golf courses, agricultural fields, mudflats, and yes, beaches. Famously not picky — many people see their first Killdeer in a Walmart parking lot, not at the shore. Nests directly on bare ground or gravel.
Conservation Status
Population is stable and even slightly increasing thanks to the bird's tolerance of human-modified landscapes. Listed as Least Concern. The biggest threat to individual nests is mowing and human foot traffic during the April–June breeding season.
Carver's Notes
The Killdeer was the first shorebird I ever carved, decades ago, and I keep coming back to it. The challenge is the breast bands — they have to be crisp, even-width, and follow the curve of the breast without looking painted-on or wonky. I lay them out with masking tape after the base coats are dry, paint slowly, and pull the tape while the paint is still slightly tacky. The orange eye ring is what fools people into thinking the bird is alive on the shelf — get the value right and the bird leans toward you.
— Edward H. Legg
Ready to Own a Piece?
Browse available carvings on Etsy. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, hand carved and painted by Edward H. Legg.
Carefully Packaged & Fully Insured
Etsy Buyer Protection
5.0 ★ Shop Rating — 11 Years