Killdeer

The bird from yesterday -- it's the killdeer (Charadius vociferus) named for its loud call kill-deeah or kill-deeah-dee-dee.

The Smithsonian Handbook of Birds of Texas describes it as the largest of the ring plovers and the only double banded plover within its range. As I observed, the guide goes on to describe how it "leads intruders away from nest and young with 'broken wing' act, rapid calls, one or both wings dragging, tail spread, and often limping or listing to one side. Once lured far enough from the nest/young, the 'crippled' bird suddenly 'heals' and flies away, calling all the while."