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Find Bird Groups

Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus

Because the Killdeer nests in upland fields and abandoned lots, the loss of farmland may be responsible for any decline in the breeding population. It is still very widespread as a breeder in Massachusetts.
Conservation Status
Monitor to Ensure Stability

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.51
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.50
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
-0.01
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
11.40
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
560
Atlas II Blocks
683
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
58
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
66
Percent change
112

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
-0.9%
P-value
not significant
Number of routes
25
Recent trend 2000-2010
-2.6%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
-4.5
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
6.6
Significantly different than zero
no
Trend (1979-2008)
-3.6
Significantly different than zero
yes
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Coastal, Grassland, Urban and Suburban

Wintering

Coastal, Grassland

Climate Suitability Current and 2050