From Opus

Phalaropus lobatus

Photo by jakobs
Iceland

[edit] Identification

18 cm

• Dark grey to black bill
• Blue-grey legs
• Lobed feet
• Needle-like bill

Winter Grey above with wing bar and most of head and underparts white.
Summer Head grey-brown with white chin and face patch. Orange patch on side of neck and throat. Male duller than female
Juvenile Similar to winter adult but browner upperparts. Buff neck and breast.

In flight bold white wing bar, reminiscent of Sanderling, and long white rump coverts.

Moult information^[5]

[edit] Distribution

Photo by bhowdy
Seen on migration at Kingston, Tennessee, USA

Breeds in arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. Iceland and very locally in northern and western islands of Scotland and NW Ireland.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Open waters and marshy areas.

[edit] Behaviour

A rather confiding bird, showing little fear of humans.

[edit] Breeding

The females pursue males, compete for nesting territory, and will defend their nests and chosen mates. Once the females lay their eggs, they begin their southward migration, leaving the males to incubate the eggs and look after the young. 3-7 eggs are laid in a ground nest near a marshy area. The young mainly feed themselves and are able to fly within 20 days of birth.

[edit] Diet

Diet includes small insects or crustaceans.

[edit] Flight

Flight outline 'tubby'. Swims with tail held up. 'Spins' on water.

[edit] Vocalisation

Call: "twit" and "tirric, tirric". A funny grunting noise prior to flight.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
4. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
5. Discussion thread on the Moulting of Red-necked Phalopes

• List of references

[edit] External Links