Killdeer: meaning, definitions and examples

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killdeer

 

[ ˈkɪlˌdɪər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

bird

A large plover of North America with two black bands around its neck and a loud voice.

Synonyms

Charadrius vociferus, plover

Examples of usage

  • We spotted a killdeer nesting in the field.
  • The killdeer's distinctive call echoed across the marshland.

Translations

Translations of the word "killdeer" in other languages:

🇵🇹 maçarico-grande

🇮🇳 किलडियर पक्षी

🇩🇪 Keilschwanz-Regenpfeifer

🇮🇩 burung kedidi

🇺🇦 дерихвіст

🇵🇱 sieweczka

🇯🇵 コチドリ

🇫🇷 pluvier kildir

🇪🇸 chorlito tildío

🇹🇷 kıyı kuşu

🇰🇷 킬디어새

🇸🇦 الطائر القاتل

🇨🇿 kulík říční

🇸🇰 kulík riečny

🇨🇳 凤头麦鸡

🇸🇮 kildevražec

🇮🇸 killdeer

🇰🇿 килдейр құсы

🇬🇪 კილდირი

🇦🇿 killdeer quşu

🇲🇽 chorlito tildío

Etymology

The name 'killdeer' is thought to have originated from the bird's distinctive call, which sounds like 'kill-deer'. Killdeers are known for their unique behavior of feigning injury to lead predators away from their nest, a trait that has evolved as a protective mechanism for their offspring. These birds are commonly found in open fields, meadows, and shorelines across North America.

See also: kill, killer, killing, killjoy, overkill.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,455, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.