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To the Beauty of Birds

The Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is migratory, and, unusual for a wader, winters at sea on tropical oceans.

The red-necked phalarope was one of the many bird species originally described by Linnaeus in the landmark 1758 10th edition of his Systema Naturae, where it was given the binomial name of Tringa lobata.

The red-necked phalarope is about 7.1 inches in length, with lobed toes and a straight, fine bill. The breeding female is predominantly dark grey above, with a chestnut neck and upper breast, black face and white throat. They have a white wing stripe which helps distinguish this bird from the similar Wilson's phalarope. The breeding male is a duller version of the female. They have lobed toes to assist with their swimming. Young birds are grey and brown above, with buff underparts and a black patch through the eye. In winter, the plumage is essentially grey above and white below, but the black eyepatch is always present. They have a sharp call described as a whit or twit.

The typical avian sex roles are reversed in the three phalarope species. Females are larger and more brightly colored than males. The females pursue and fight over males, and will defend their mate from other females until the clutch is complete and the male begins incubation. The males perform all incubation and chick-rearing activities, while the females may attempt to find another mate. If a male loses his eggs to predation, he may re-pair with his original mate or a new female to try again. Once it becomes too late in the breeding season to start new nests, females begin their southward migration, leaving the males to incubate the eggs and look after the young.

When feeding, a red-necked phalarope will often swim in a small, rapid circle, forming a small whirlpool. This behavior is thought to aid feeding by raising food from the bottom of shallow water. The bird will reach into the center of the vortex with its bill, plucking small insects or crustaceans caught up therein. On the open ocean, they are often found where converging currents produce up wellings. During migration, some flocks stop over on the open waters at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy to take advantage of food stirred up by tidal action.

Almost all of the non-breeding season is spent in open water. As this species rarely comes into contact with humans, it can be unusually tame.

Dui described Red-necked Phalaropes as “always having sex.” This proved to be the case as shown by the two photos of them mating.

Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope 8819

Red-necked Phalarope 8820

Red-necked Phalarope 8821

Red-necked Phalarope 8822

Red-necked Phalarope 0126

Red-necked Phalaropes mating 8510

Red-necked Phalaropes mating 8514

Red-necked Phalaropes mating 8515