Return of the Driveway Killdeer Nesting 2026

 

Return of the Driveway Killdeer Nesting 2026

Killdeer Female

They’re back—and right on schedule. For the third year in a row, our driveway has become a full-fledged Killdeer nursery. It feels like a genuine vote of confidence from the wild, and we’re thrilled to witness the next chapter in this little saga. The pair has grown increasingly comfortable with my presence; she now stays on the nest when I walk past. But if a bird of prey circles overhead, she doesn’t hesitate to slip off and take precautions.

A New Beginning: Four Speckled Treasures

Killdeer Eggs

Just over a week ago, the resident pair settled in and laid four beautifully speckled eggs.
To give them the best chance at success, I have already placed the protective cage over the nest. This setup has been a lifesaver in past seasons, allowing the parents to slip easily through the mesh while keeping larger predators at a respectable distance. When I set the cage over the nest, she stepped off the eggs and watched quietly from a short distance, just waiting for her chance to return. The moment I finished staking everything down, she slipped right back onto the nest without hesitation. 🙂

Killdeer On Eggs

Early Season Challenges

The neighborhood wildlife has wasted no time taking an interest. In the first week alone, we had a few tense moments:

• The Coyote: A familiar local wandered by, casually “checking the perimeter” near the driveway.
• The Hawk: A raptor has been circling regularly, even perching in a nearby tree to watch the nest with laser focus.
• The Buzzard: For the first time, this bird descended toward the Killdeer mother, who was exhibiting her “broken-wing display.”

So far, the cage is doing exactly what it is meant to do, providing that crucial buffer during the vulnerable incubation period.

Nature’s Greatest Actor: The Broken-Wing Display

Killdeer "Broken-wing Display"

If you wander too close to a Killdeer nest, you might witness to one of the most iconic performances in bird behavior: the broken-wing display.

When a Killdeer senses danger—whether it is a human, a dog, or a predator, it does not flee. Instead, it becomes an actor worthy of an award, pretending to be injured to lure the threat away from the eggs. The routine is unmistakable:

• Exhibiting wing movement suggests an injury.
• The bird fans its tail and emits a distressed call described as a "kill-deer" or "kee-dee" call, frequently accompanied by a "sharp dee" alarm or a "nervous, bubbling trill". 
• Staggering away from the nest, then making a sudden recovery after the threat has passed.

It is a selfless, high-stakes tactic that shows just how fiercely these birds protect their future brood.

Stay Tuned

The eggs are about a week old now, which means we are three weeks away from (hopefully) seeing those fuzzies, fast-moving, fully precocial chicks hit the ground running. The countdown begins. 

Note: For comparison, last year the precocial chicks made their debut on or about April 11, 2025, and all four from that nesting spot survived. It’s been a joy to see the four Killdeer return together for the occasional visit.

Update 4.01.2026

Killdeer Nest Update: Frost, Predators, and One Very Curious Hummingbird

It has been an eventful week for our Killdeer pair. Despite a couple of cold mornings, the nesting parent has remained steadfast sitting tight on the eggs, keeping them warm, and never losing focus. The off‑duty mate has been hunkered down about fifty feet away, acting as a quiet sentinel. On a chilly morning, the guarding bird nestled down in the grass, concealed by frost until the sunlight gradually melted it away.

As the light came up, the guard shifted to the upper lawn, clearly on alert after spotting a coyote making its way toward the nest. If that coyote had come any closer, the Killdeer would have launched into their famous broken‑wing display. Gail happened to see the coyote from the kitchen window and immediately the window opened, yelling to scare it off. I grabbed my camera and headed outside. By then, the coyote was already retreating, and the Killdeer was holding its ground like a tiny, determined guardian.

And through all this commotion, an Anna’s hummingbird hovered nearby watching the drama unfold like it had front‑row seats to the morning’s wildlife theater.

The challenges did not stop there. Later that afternoon, a bald eagle circled overhead. Then this morning, a crow perched in the tree right next to the nest, staring down with far too much interest. As I drove by, it finally spooked and shot off just as I got a quick pic.

All signs point to a tough season ahead for this pair. Between coyotes, raptors, crows, and now even curious hummingbird spectators, they have their work cut out for them. But if there is one thing these birds have proven year after year, it is that they are resilient and fiercely devoted.

Hoping for the best for our little driveway family.

Update 4.05.2026

Killdeer Nest Update: A Second Nest, New Challenges, and Watchful Eyes

It looks like we have two active Killdeer nests along the driveway now. The second nest could be from one of last year’s chicks, she is much more skittish and on high alert with everything happening around her. The moment I step outside to check on her, she is already out doing the full broken‑wing display, trying her best to lure me away.

I was able to get the protective cage placed over her nest, and after about thirty minutes of cautious circling, she finally returned and settled back onto the eggs. 

She is nervous, but she is committed.

Every day, there is overhead action, bald eagles and turkey vultures soar through the skies. Thankfully, I have not seen the coyotes in a while. And as always, the hummingbirds are still hovering around, watching all the commotion like tiny aerial spectators.

I checked on the first nest as well, and everything there is going great. 

That mom is incredibly vigilant, and between the pair, there is always one bird sitting tight on the eggs. They have settled into a steady rhythm.

With two nests now and so many predators passing through, it is shaping up to be a challenging season for these Killdeer families. But they are tough and devoted!

© Chris LeBoutillier

“Photographs are silent; one’s thoughts give them life.” ™ -Chris LeBoutillier