Red Phalarope

2 months ago

Points: 80

Spotted

The Red Phalarope is a small, highly pelagic shorebird known for its unique feeding method and reversed sexual roles. It often spins on the water surface to create a vortex, bringing food to the surface.

Where to spot

Breeds in the Arctic tundra regions of North America, Greenland, Iceland, and Eurasia. Spends the non-breeding season far out at sea in tropical and subtropical oceans.

How to spot

Look for its distinctive spinning behavior on calm water. Identify by its stout bill and, in breeding plumage, the brick-red underparts (female) or duller reddish (male). In non-breeding plumage, it is pale grey and white with a dark eye patch.

When to spot

Best observed during the Arctic summer (June-August) on breeding grounds. Pelagic observation is possible during migration and winter (August-May) in open ocean waters.

Where to spot

Breeds in the Arctic tundra regions of North America, Greenland, Iceland, and Eurasia. Spends the non-breeding season far out at sea in tropical and subtropical oceans.

How to spot

When to spot

Best observed during the Arctic summer (June-August) on breeding grounds. Pelagic observation is possible during migration and winter (August-May) in open ocean waters.

Credits: Publiek domein, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=276208

Credits: By (c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) - https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/2946644, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143299445

Female Red Phalaropes are more brightly colored than males and abandon their clutches to find new mates, leaving the males to incubate the eggs and raise the young.

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