Nesting of the Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) distant from water-bodies in Mexico City and review of its reproductive activity

Authors

  • Gerardo López-Ortega Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México
  • Pilar Carbó-Ramírez Investigador independiente, Oulu, Finlandia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0027-4074

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2025.26.2.807

Keywords:

Iztapalapa, reproduction, shorebird, urbanization, citizen science, eBird, iNaturalist

Abstract

The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is a shorebird that breeds near water bodies and its breeding phenology has been little studied in Mexico. During bird censuses conducted in the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa in Mexico City, we recorded nests, chicks, and juveniles of the Killdeer in 2010, 2013, and 2018. We report the first nesting record for the Iztapalapa borough of Mexico City, which is the farthest (~3 km) from a water body documented to date. In addition, we reviewed the literature and citizen science platforms to obtain reproductive records of the species in Mexico City, where we obtained 32 records, 66% of which came from these platforms. Nests of the Killdeer were concentrated in the central and northeastern areas of the city, where warmer temperatures prevail. We compared environmental variables among boroughs, including distance to the nearest water body, temperature, and precipitation at sites where the Killdeer established its nests. Of these, 66% were located less than 300 m from a water-body, except in Iztapalapa and Tlalpan where they were located significantly further away. Mean temperature was significantly lower in Tlalpan (17.6°C) and higher in Gustavo A. Madero and Iztapalapa (18.5°C). The majority of nests (94%) were recorded in boroughs with rainfall below 800 mm, except Tlalpan, which had the highest values. Our results suggest that the Killdeer breeds in Mexico City in areas with temperatures above 16°C and rainfall below 800 mm.

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Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

López-Ortega, G., & Carbó-Ramírez, P. (2025). Nesting of the Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) distant from water-bodies in Mexico City and review of its reproductive activity. Huitzil Revista Mexicana De Ornitologí­a, 26(2), e689. https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2025.26.2.807

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