BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Charadrius vociferus
Killdeer
| Scientific Name: | Charadrius vociferus |
|---|---|
| English Name: | Killdeer |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S3S5B |
| Date Status Assigned: | March 25, 2022 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 25, 2022 |
| Reasons: | Large breeding range and high number of breeding occurrences, also nonbreeders found along the coast. However, large recent declines noted by the both BBS (ECCC 2020) and BC Coastal Waterbird Survey.. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | G = 200,000-2,500,000 square km |
| Range Extent Estimate (km2): | 895,000 |
| Range Extent Comments: | 895,000 square km based on confirmed and probable breeding observations in the Breeding Bird Atlas of British Columbia (Burger 2015) and records on eBird. Burger (2015) states: "Most Killdeer breed in the southern third of the province, with concentrations in the Georgia Depression and lowland areas in the Central Interior, Southern Interior and Southern Interior Mountains Ecoprovinces. In general this mirrors the distribution of agriculture and human habitation. Areas of high Probability of Observation match the distribution of confirmed or probable breeding records, although the highest concentrations away from the Chilcotin Plateau (e.g., south and east Vancouver Island, and the lower Fraser and Okanagan valleys) are not as clearly evident on the map because of the narrow habitat zones the species occupies. Killdeer abundance is highest below 500 m elevation. Abundance is slightly higher in the Georgia Depression than in other ecoprovinces, although point count sample sizes are small". Breeds on Hadai Gwaii. Migrants can be found in a variety of habitats, including high elevation open areas (Campbell et al. 1990). |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | DE = 81 to >300 |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | BC = 1 - 12 |
| Population Size: | FH = 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals |
| Comments: | Unknown. Despite its conspicuousness, Killdeer is not an abundant species in British Columbia and in most areas was recorded on less than 1% of point counts. (Burger 2015) and the "FH" range covers the plausible estimates for BC, |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | DF = Decline of 10-70% |
| Comments: | BBS analysis 2007-2017 suggests an annual decline of -6.63% (95% CL -10.3 to -3.26) with ?low reliability?. This indicates a population change of -49.6% (95% CL -66.3 to -28.2) over the 10-year period. Previously a 55% decline over 10 yrs (7.7% PA 1996-2006; Downes and Collins 2007) and 43% decline over 10 yrs (5.5% PA 1986-2006; Downes and Collins 2007) were estimate for BC. Declines over most of NA range (Sauer et al 2007) |
| Long-Term Trend: | AC = Decline of >70% |
| Comments: | BBS analysis 1970-2017 suggests an annual decline of -3.96% (95% CL -5.02 to -2.97) with ?high reliability?. This indicates a population change of -85% (95% CL -91.1 to -75.8) over the 47-year period. Prior to this decline Killdeer have likely expanded their numbers in BC with clearing, especially for agriculture and roads. Manmade habitats tend to have the highest abundance of Killdeer (Campbell 1990)Historically Killdeer was an uncommon species along the coast of BC but by 1925 had become common (Jackson and Jackson 2020) . |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Environmental Specificity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | D.F.Fraser |
| Date: | March 20, 2021 |
| References | |
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Downes, C.M., and B.T. Collins. 2007. Canadian Bird Trends Web site Version 2.2. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0H3.
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Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2007. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2006. Version 10.13.2007. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2021. Conservation Status Report: Charadrius vociferus. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Apr 4, 2026).