Wilson’s plover (Charadrius wilsonia) and killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) are two similar-looking shorebirds that can be found in North America. Wilson’s plover is a small, stocky bird with a black band across its forehead and a white ring around its eye. Killdeer are slightly larger than Wilson’s plovers and have a brown band across their forehead and a white stripe above their eye.
Both Wilson’s plover and killdeer nest on the ground, and their eggs are well-camouflaged. Wilson’s plovers typically lay two or three eggs, while killdeer lay four or five eggs. The eggs of both species hatch after about 28 days, and the chicks are able to walk and feed themselves almost immediately. Wilson’s plover chicks are born with a black band across their forehead, which they lose as they get older. Killdeer chicks are born with a brown band across their forehead, which they also lose as they get older.