10 Animals That Play Dead to Survive

3. The Killdeer

The killdeer—a ground-nesting species—has a clever trick up its sleeve when it comes to protecting its young. Instead of playing dead, this ground-nesting bird fakes an injury—dragging a wing and stumbling away like it’s hurt—to grab a predator’s attention. The goal? Lure the threat away from its nest and give its chicks a better go at survival. It’s a risky move since the killdeer is putting itself in danger, but that’s the price of being a devoted parent in the wild. This kind of calculated deception highlights the delicate balance between self-preservation and parental care—sometimes, survival in the wild isn’t simply about escaping danger yourself but about making sure the young do too.