What Do Killdeer Eat? (Complete Guide)

killer deer (catfish) is one of the most common plovers in North America. Found across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, these shorebirds prefer habitats with little or no vegetation, such as mudflats, shorelines, and manicured lawns. You may also observe them hanging out in parking lots during the winter.

Killer deer feed on a variety of invertebrates, seeds, and some small vertebrates, but insects are their main food source, including beetles, grasshoppers, and fly larvae. They also usually eat earthworms, snails and crayfish.

These shorebirds are also opportunistic feeders—killer deer will feed on frogs, tadpoles, and fish when the opportunity presents itself. If you want to learn more about what this bird eats and how they find food, keep reading! In this article, we discuss the diet of killed deer in detail and answer the most frequently asked questions.

Hunting deer foraging in Canadian wetlands

What Insects Do Killer Deer Eat?

Killer deer eat a wide variety of insects. Grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles and fly larvae are among their most popular foods. They also feed on dragonflies, caddisflies, mosquito larvae, ants, spiders, centipedes, earthworms, ticks, and other true insects.

How do killer deer find food?

Killer deer find food by tapping one foot on the ground or water surface in shallow water. This behavior is thought to attract buried prey. These birds also use their beaks to dig into the dirt or to chase prey that runs along the ground.

Deer hunting has adapted some hunting behaviors. The most common tactic is for the bird to run towards the prey, then stop and wait. Once their prey moves, the killer deer will rush forward and grab the animal with its jaws. The birds will also follow farmers’ plows to retrieve tilled earthworms.

deer hunting in swamp

What time of day do deer eat?

Killer deer feed during the day and at night. Flocks of birds are often observed in fields and parking lots long after dusk in early spring and summer. These noisy gatherings often include foraging and socializing together.

What do deer eat in winter?

Killer deer are only a partially migratory species. Most species are year-round residents, overwintering in or near their nesting grounds. Birds’ diets don’t change much during the winter — they still mostly eat insects.

During the winter, killing deer feed primarily on turf nematode adults, with larvae being their most common prey. They also feed on beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, earthworms and centipedes. Surplus seeds from agricultural areas are also eaten throughout the winter.

killer deer in winter

What do deer eat in summer?

During the summer months, deer can be killed for their entire food source. Insect larvae, earthworms, grasshoppers, spiders and snails are common prey. Crayfish and other small crustaceans are also eaten.

Although these shorebirds feed primarily on insects, they are opportunistic feeders. Killer deer will also eat frogs, tadpoles, and small fish when the opportunity arises.

What Do Little Killer Deer Eat?

Killer deer were not observed feeding their young. After the chicks hatch, they soon follow their parents to the feeding area. These may include ponds, streams, ditches or any other area with shallow or flowing water.

The fawns start catching and eating prey on their own, with insects being their main food source. They have also been observed eating crayfish.

Killdeer with their chicks

What Can I Feed a Killing Deer?

You can feed deer mealworms, or they may forage for seeds from under your bird feeders or in your garden. However, they generally prefer to catch and eat invertebrates such as worms, beetles, grasshoppers and insect larvae.

Do killer deer feed on the ground?

Killer deer feed primarily on the ground. They scout in the mud, or chase and catch prey running along the surface. Occasionally, deer hunts will take tree frogs or insects perched on vegetation or in flight.

killer deer eating worms

What does the killer deer drink?

Hunting deer often drink from streams or still pools. They are most often observed drinking alcohol after meals.

How do I attract hunting deer to my yard?

Killer deer are attracted to open, manicured lawns or fields, ideally with access to a nearby water source. If your property offers this habitat, you can lure these shorebirds to feed in or near your yard.

Killer deer do not use bird feeders, although they occasionally eat seeds in gardens and fields. Foraging on the ground is the preferred method of finding food for deer hunting. Keep this in mind when making plans to attract these birds to your yard.

killer deer in flight

Killdeer Diet FAQs

Do killer deer eat their eggshells?

Killer deer don’t eat their eggshells. They do, however, remove the broken shells from the nest after the chicks have hatched.

Do Killed Deer Eat Mealworms?

You can feed deer mealworms, but they prefer to forage for spiders, snails, worms, insects and crayfish on their own.

Killing deer for bird food?

Deer hunters occasionally eat seeds, but they prefer insects and small crustaceans. They will not be attracted to bird feeders.

Do killer deer eat bread?

Bread is not a natural food source for killed deer, nor is it nutritious for them. These birds are healthiest eating a natural diet of invertebrates and seeds.

close up of a killing deer

Do killer deer eat ticks?

Killer deer eat ticks. They also eat a variety of other terrestrial and aquatic insects.

Do killer deer eat tadpoles?

Killer deer are an opportunistic breeder. It will eat tadpoles (and baby frogs) every chance it gets.

Do Killing Deer Eat Worms?

Worms are the main food source for killer deer. As well as caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers and fly larvae.