Killdeer

Killdeer are lively shorebirds you can spot year-round in the Coachella Valley’s open fields, golf courses, and parking lots. They have brown backs, white bellies, and two dark chest bands. Their loud, shrill “kill-deer” call is hard to miss.

They forage for insects and other small creatures, pecking at the ground as they hop around. Watch for their “broken wing” act—a clever trick to distract predators from their nest. If you see a killdeer pretending to be injured, it’s leading you away from its eggs or chicks.

Early mornings and late afternoons are great times to watch them dart and call across patches of open ground. They blend surprisingly well into the desert’s sandy, rocky landscapes, so look carefully!