Killdeer are a species of plover that are found throughout North America. They are known for their distinct brown and white plumage and loud, piercing calls. Killdeer get their name from the sound of their call, which sounds like they are saying “kill-deer”.
Breeding and Nesting
Killdeer breed between April and August. They nest on the ground in a scrape or depression, lining the nest with grasses, leaves, pebbles, or shell fragments. Killdeer nests are extremely well camouflaged and the parents will attempt to lure predators and intruders away from the nest by faking a broken wing.
Female killdeer typically lay between 3-6 eggs per clutch. The eggs are buff to beige in color with black markings. Incubation lasts for 24-26 days and is done primarily by the female, although the male may help incubate as well. Killdeer chicks are precocial, meaning they are covered in downy feathers and are able to leave the nest within a few hours after hatching.
Growth and Development
Killdeer chicks grow and develop rapidly in their first few weeks of life. Here is a general timeline:
- Day 1 – chicks hatch from the egg covered in downy feathers and are able to walk and feed themselves
- Day 2-3 – flight feathers begin to emerge from the wings
- Day 7-10 – chicks develop a full coat of juvenile plumage
- 2 weeks – tail feathers are fully grown
- 3 weeks – chicks are almost fully feathered but still have some down
- 4 weeks – chicks are fully feathered and resemble adult plumage
Killdeer chicks reach adult size when they are around 30 days old. Their wings and flight feathers are typically fully developed by this point.
First Flight
Most sources state that killdeer chicks will take their first flight when they are 25-28 days old. So in general, killdeer chicks are ready to fly about 4 weeks after hatching.
The first flights of killdeer chicks are short and clumsy. The chicks will flutter a short distance of just a few feet at first. Their flight skills improve rapidly with practice over the next several days. The chicks also work on building flight muscle and stamina during this time.
Within 1 week of their initial short flights, the chicks are adept fliers and can fly continuously to keep up with their parents. Their flight muscles and feathers are fully developed by 5-6 weeks of age.
Flight Development Timeline
Here is a summary of the typical timeline for killdeer chicks to develop flight:
- 2 weeks – tail feathers fully grown
- 3 weeks – wings fully feathered
- 4 weeks – flight feathers fully developed
- 25-28 days – first short flights of a few feet
- 5-6 weeks – adept fliers, can fly continuously with parents
Of course, the exact timeline can vary from chick to chick based on factors like diet, predator threats, and weather conditions. But most killdeer chicks are ready for their first short flights around 25-28 days after hatching.
Importance of Flight
The ability to fly is critical for killdeer chicks’ survival. Flight allows the chicks to escape predators, forage for food, and migrate with their parents. Killdeer often nest in areas with many ground predators, so the chicks must develop quick flight skills.
Some key reasons flight is so important for killdeer chicks:
- Evade predators – killdeer nest on the ground so their young are vulnerable. Flight gives them an escape strategy.
- Foraging – flying allows killdeer chicks to cover more territory to find insect prey
- Migration – killdeer migrate long distances in the fall, so chicks must be able to fly
- Temperature regulation – sitting on warm ground helps regulate their temperature
Killdeer chicks that do not successfully develop flight skills and muscle strength will have very low survival rates. Their ability to fly impacts survival far beyond just the first few weeks after hatching.
Parental Care
Parental care is very important for killdeer chicks to grow and develop properly in their first weeks of life. The chicks rely completely on their parents for the following:
- Incubation – keeping the eggs warm until hatching
- Brooding – keeping newly hatched chicks warm
- Feeding – providing insects and other prey
- Protection – defending against predators and leading intruders away from nest
- Teaching – parents demonstrate foraging, flying, and evasion skills
Killdeer parents continue caring for their chicks until they successfully fledge and can feed and fly on their own. This parental care and teaching is what allows the chicks to develop vital survival skills like flight.
Threats and Mortality
Killdeer chicks face a high mortality rate in their first few weeks of life due to predation. Because they nest on the ground, killdeer eggs and young are vulnerable to many predators including:
- Crows
- Gulls
- Raccoons
- Coyotes
- Foxes
- Snakes
- Domestic cats and dogs
Predation is the main cause of egg and chick loss in killdeer. The chicks’ ability to fly gives them a greater chance of escaping predation. Chicks that do not successfully develop flight will likely not survive past 4-5 weeks of age.
Other threats to young killdeer include:
- Weather – exposure can lead to death
- Disease
- Habitat loss
- Pollution
- Collisions – with cars, buildings, etc.
But predation remains the primary danger, which is why flight development is so crucial. The sooner the chicks learn to fly skillfully, the better their chances of survival.
Conclusion
In summary, most killdeer chicks take their first flight when they are between 25-28 days old or around 4 weeks after hatching. But their initial flights are very short, spanning just a few feet. Within another week or two the chicks gain flight muscles, stamina, and skill and are able to fly continuously to keep up with their parents.
Developing the ability to fly is extremely important for killdeer chicks’ chances of survival. It allows them to forage for food, escape predators, regulate temperature, and migrate. Killdeer nest on the ground, so their young are very vulnerable to predators. Flight provides a key anti-predator defense.
With excellent parental care in their first weeks and proper development of their wings and flight muscles, killdeer chicks can gain the flying skills necessary to survive and thrive in their environment.
