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Killdeer

Killdeer line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Killdeer line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Killdeer was completed on 12.6.09. The plaintive call of these birds was part of growing up in Minnesota. Of course, they are famous for being able to lead predators away from their nest as they pretend to have a wing that's broken. I'm glad that I can also see them in my adopted California too. The drawing is based on a photo by the talented wildlife photographer 'Photo Patty.'

Information about the Killdeer:

The Killdeer is a robin-sized plover and the largest of the ringed plovers. They are fairly common and often seen in open grasslands, fields, wetlands, croplands, on lakeshores, pastures, prairies and even golf courses and parking lots. Primarily killdeers feed on insects and other invertebrates, although they will also eat berries. They are grounding nesting birds and when they have chicks to protect frequently uses a "broken wing act" to distract predators from the nest.