***Federal - MBTA***

    Killdeer are the most common of the state's plovers.  They can be separated from other shorerebirds by their two black bands on a white breast and white collar on a brown back.  They are one of two breeding Plovers, the endangered Piping Plover is the other one.  Killdeer are quite common near water and in rural grassy areas.  They also frequent urban parking lots.  The nest is a small scrape in the ground, lined with grass it is very inconspicuous.  The adult birds use themselves to distract predators from the nest by feigning a broken wing to draw the predator toward them.  When the bird feels the predator is far enough away it then flies off leaving the predator empty handed.  The species name is quite accurate.  One of the ways Killdeer make their presence known is by their voice -- a loud, shrill whistle "Kill- DEER, Kill- DEER."  It is probably a way of warning others of their species there is danger about.
    A similar plover, the Semipalmated Plover, can be seen in muddy and sandy areas during migration, but the voice of a Semipalmated is more dainty, not as harsh, and with a clear whistle, not the "Kill- DEER."  It also is smaller and has a single black breast band where the Killdeer has two.  Semipalmated refers to the partial webbing on the toes.  ("Semi-" = Partial, "Palmate"= Webbed)