Killdeer Nesting (All You Need To Know)

The killer deer is a peculiar species of North American plovers. They are often seen in large groups in gravel parking lots or low grassy areas, where they feed and socialize well into the night. These birds have adapted well to living close to humans, often even nesting in places with high human activity.

Deer hunters prefer relatively open nesting sites at high altitudes with little vegetation. Nests are usually located on hills or knolls in sandy or gravel areas. It is also common to build nests on roadsides, in parking lots, or near people’s homes.

In this complete deer hunting guide to nesting, we take a closer look at the birds’ nesting habits, what time of year they lay their eggs and how they raise their young. Read on to learn more!

Killer deer sits on a nest with eggs

Do killer deer build nests?

Killdeers build simple nests that are basically just scratching the ground. They often place several scratches close to each other, but usually only choose one as a nesting site. The generation of multiple abrasions may confuse potential predators.

Where do killer deer nest?

Killer deer typically nest on slightly raised terrain such as hilltops. This behavior may reduce the threat of flooding, and it provides the birds with a commanding view of their surroundings. Nesting sites do not have dense vegetation. Low grass or no vegetation at all is most common.

Historically, kill deer seem to have preferred to nest on sandbars and gravel near rivers and shorelines. Today, nesting sites are common in gravel parking lots and road shoulders. Open gravel roofs are also used.

However, rooftops are not an ideal location, as chicks are often unable to descend without human intervention.

Killdeer nests are simple nests, usually well camouflaged

What does a deer hunting den look like?

Killer deer’s dens are scratches in the ground, usually lined with white objects. Materials may include shell fragments, rocks, plant stems, bones, crayfish shells, plastic and cigarette filters. The bird’s tendency to prefer white objects may be a way of camouflaging the nest by mixing it with a mottled gravel surface.

Scrap is usually free of such materials before laying begins. During the spawning and hatching process, kill deer start adding to their nests. You’ll also notice that deer hunts create multiple scratch marks near the dens they use – a tactic that helps with camouflage.

What time of year do deer hunt nest?

In the southern United States, where winters and springs are mild, nesting typically begins in early March and ends around November. However, the northernmost populations, such as those in central Canada, can only nest between June and the end of July. Deer hunting populations in Mexico and the Caribbean, on the other hand, can nest year-round.

Killdeer sits on the nest with two chicks

How Long Do Deer Hunt Nest?

The length of time a deer hunts to build a nest depends largely on its range. Birds that live in Mexico and the Caribbean have the longest nesting seasons because they can theoretically breed year-round. Killer deer in the southern United States also have a fairly long nesting season, from March to November. The first litter is usually born from March to mid-April. A second, or even a third, may follow the first.

Killer deer have a shorter nesting season in the northern part of their range. Birds that live in Michigan typically lay their eggs sometime between April and June, while birds further north may only lay eggs in June and July.

A shorter breeding season often results in pairs producing just one litter instead of two or three. If birds in these areas have a second brood, it is likely because the first brood was unsuccessful.

Killed deer protecting a nest with eggs

How do killer deer build their nests?

Hunting deer build their nests by digging depressions in the ground. Both men and women participate in what is called a scratching ceremony. Men typically begin the ritual by lowering their breasts to the ground and scraping them with their feet. The female then joins in, approaching the male with her head down as he moves away from the scrape. The pair will repeat this behavior several times in a row, taking turns digging out the nest.

Birds begin this ritual seven to ten days before laying eggs. They will scratch the same area several times before choosing one as a nesting site. No lining material is added to the nest until the first egg is laid.

When does the fawn leave the den?

Young killing deer usually leave the nest around 31 days after hatching. Although, they may continue to be cared for by their parents for another ten days.

Interestingly, hunting deer do not feed their young. Soon after hatching, the chicks follow their parents from the nest to the feeding site, where they begin foraging for food on their own.

Killdeer chick walks around

How many litters does killdeer have?

Killer deer typically produce one to three litters per year. One brood is usually the northernmost population, while two or three broods are more common for birds that nest in the southern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Do deer hunts nest in the same place every year?

Killed deer often stay or return to the same breeding area year after year in the event of population migration. Previous nesting sites are often reused, but eggs are not necessarily laid at previous scrapes. A pair will initiate a new scratching ritual, creating several stations next to each other before choosing one.

Recently hatched deer hunter chicks

What does a slaughtered deer egg look like?

Killer deer eggs are ovoid in shape and are usually cream, tan, or yellow-gray in color. They are covered with dark brown spots that are more pronounced at the larger end of the eggs. Dimensions averaged between 38.2 mm long and 26.8 mm wide, or 37.9 mm long and 27.1 mm wide.

Close up of 4 eggs of a slaughtered deer in a nest

How many months does a murderous deer usually lay eggs?

The southernmost population of killer deer usually lays their first eggs in early March. Northern residents won’t lie down until mid-April at the earliest.

Does killdeer use nest boxes?

Deer hunting is less likely to use nest boxes. They prefer to dig a depression in the ground to lay their eggs. However, if you have a low, flat gravel roof or cobblestone landscape, you may be attracting hunting deer to your yard.

kill deer call

Where do tiger deer nest at night?

Killer deer are active both day and night, often foraging at dusk and late at night. However, one member of the pair will remain in the nest during incubation and brooding – at least until the ambient temperature is high enough that constant care is not required.

Are Killer Deer Nesting in Backyards?

In general, it is not uncommon for killed deer to nest in backyards or near human activity. Some birds lay their eggs in gravel parking lots or on busy highways. If your backyard offers the habitat features that kill deer love — high gravel with low vegetation — you’ll likely find a couple nesting there.