Red Phalarope: Breeds along the arctic coasts of Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland; migrates along both coasts, very rarely recorded inland. The Red Phalarope breeds on coastal tundra in the high-Arctic of Alaska and northern Canada (Tracy et al. eBird transforms your bird sightings into science and conservation. This was the first photo where I noticed how much of a red belly this bird had. A sliver of hope is kept alive, though, by documented sightings in the 1960’s, undocumented sightings since then, and the fact that it breeds and winters in very remote areas. Nonbreeding adult/immature (with Red-necked Phalarope) In flight Red Phalaropes have cleaner underwings and a solid gray back, unlike Red-necked Phalaropes that have dark markings on the underwing and a striped gray back. var sc_project=965006; Its breeding range is circumpolar, but extends much farther south than that of the red phalarope; it might be called sub-Arctic rather than Arctic. Flight is swift and direct with rapid wing beats. If I am lucky I get to see amazing murmurations of the phalaropes over the Great Salt Lake. The subject sighting was Identified as a RNPH at a distance in flight with wings seen when held flat at 90 degrees to observer using the more reliable distant/pelagic field marks of Dark, heavy contrasting, thin-winged, weak, very hard to see wing stripe and as a phalarope showing erratic flight as it landed in surf and swam. A male Red Phalarope (back) and female Red-necked Phalarope (front) in Maryland waters (6/4/2005). The majority of sandpipers, phalaropes and allies occur in flocks outside of the breeding season. "); Submit your email address below and it will happen! Red-necked Phalaropes can live up to 5 years. : "http://www. Without your assistance I would only see (and delight in) a sea of birds. Wilson’s Phalaropes lay 4 eggs which take 18 to 21 days to hatch. Feeds on small fish, insects and aquatic invertebrates. The bill is yellow, tipped black. In general, they have plump bodies, short tails, longish necks with small heads, and long, pointed wings for fast, long distance flight. "statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js'>"); //]]> var scJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? var sc_https=1; They sometimes fly up to catch insects in flight. Photo by Bill Hubick. Do the black bird ever crossbreed creating a hybrid? Pull the rectangle on the right side to the left and you’ll see I have circled some (not all) of the Red-necked Phalaropes flying with the Wilson’s Phalaropes. The English name “red-necked phalarope” has its origin in this reddish patch. Red-necked Phalaropes lay 3 to 4 eggs which take 17 to 21 days to hatch. We have had 2 breeding pairs of Common Grackles in Eastern…, April, I did some research and in the Icterid family it looks…, Very nice! The breeding female is predominantly dark brown and black above, with red underparts and white cheek patches. This post was so much fun! Flocks of Phalaropes In Flight – But Which Species? Very cool techie application, I am impressed! Great pictures and info! Phalaropes are the only shorebirds that regularly swim in deep water. Flight is swift and direct with rapid wing beats. Red-necked Phalaropes breed in the Arctic, in Alaska from James Bay to the Aleutians and on the southern coast of Greenland. The preferred breeding habitat for Wilson’s Phalaropes include marshes, grassy edges of shallow lakes, reservoirs and even ditches in the Great Plains and Intermountain West with spotty breeding areas in the Midwest. You are a tech — and teach — wizard, Mia! Photo by J.B. Churchill. Great images & great information. The phalaropes gather in impressively large numbers on the hypersaline Great Salt Lake to feast on brine shrimp and brine flies which helps to fuel them up for their long migrations. Photo by Josh Emm. Note that the phalaropes I have circled in blue above have white stripes on the wings, those birds are Red-necked Phalaropes. The breeding male is a duller version of the female. Wilson’s Phalaropes are small, grayish shorebirds with long, slender legs, thin straight long bills and short necks. Feeds on small fish, insects and aquatic invertebrates. document.write("