You may know Sanibel’s beaches are home to nesting snowy plovers (Anarhynchus nivosus) and Wilson’s plovers (Anarhynchus wilsonia), but did you know there’s a third plover species that can be found right in your backyard?

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) are a plover species that can be found year-round in Florida as well as across the United States, Caribbean, and Central America. They are eye-catching birds with tan-brown and white plumage, two black chest bands, and bright orange eye rings.

“The recent hurricanes may have displaced killdeer from their usual habitats and nesting sites, causing them to nest all over the islands — often in close proximity to humans,” said SCCF Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht. “They can be found in open fields and marshes, but often nest in driveways, golf courses, and parking lots.”

Killdeer dig shallow nests in the ground called scrapes and can lay four to six eggs per scrape. Eggs often blend in with the ground and can be very difficult to spot. 

“If they feel threatened, they will loudly call — a high pitched ‘kill-deer‘ that gives them their name — bob up and down, or pretend to be injured to lure predators away,” Albrecht said. “If you see any of these behaviors, there could be a nest nearby, so watch your steps carefully.”

If you see or hear a killdeer in your area, please contact shorebirds@sccf.org with the location.