Page 201 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Species Phalaropus lobatus
Red-necked Phalarope
dark face
white throat
blackish wings
with strong bright red neck
white stripe (less red on male)
long buff stripes
on dark grey back fine
black
bill
FEMALE
(SUMMER)
looks very
dark
IN FLIGHT black cap
black eye
black mask patch
FEMALE (SUMMER)
striped
blackish all-black grey above
back bill
needle-
fine bill
ADULT
JUVENILE (WINTER)
tiny, delicate wader, the Red-necked Phalarope spends much
Aof its time at sea, swimming with foreparts held up, and tail
and wingtips upswept.This is a common breeder in the far north
and winters in large numbers in the Middle East, but is a rare bird
in most of Europe. In much of western Europe, it is an occasional
autumn migrant, usually in juvenile plumage, and is much less FLIGHT: fast, low, darting flight, with fluttering
frequent inland than the Grey Phalarope. Careful observation is effect, on broad-based wings.
required to be certain of identification in non-breeding plumages.
VOICE Sharp twik and quick, twittering notes.
NESTING Small, round hollow in grass tussocks in wet marshes;
4 eggs; 1 brood;April–July.
FEEDING Feeds at
water’s edge on insects,
or picks insects from
water surface, often
spinning like a top.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds on northern pools and wet
GREY PHALAROPE thicker marshes in extreme N and NW
winter, similar to bill Europe. Winters at sea. Rare
adult winter;
see p.198 migrants in spring and autumn,
mostly juveniles, on coastal
paler back
lagoons; much less often storm-
blown inland than Grey Phalarope.
MARSHLAND NESTER
In summer, the shallows of reedy lakes or stony pools on northern islands Seen in the UK
are the best places to look for the Red-necked Phalarope (male pictured). J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 17–19cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 30–34cm (12–13 1 ⁄2in) Weight 25–50g ( 7 ⁄8 –1 3 ⁄4oz)
Social Winter flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure†
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