Waterbird Wednesday week 20: phalaropes
Phalaropes are birds in the genus Phalaropus, which comes from the Latin 'phalaris' meaning Coot and 'pous' meaning foot due to the fact that both Coots and Phalaropes have bizarre lobed feet! They are classed as waders, however are unlike many other waders in that they spend a lot of time swimming. They have a distinctive way of feeding, spinning around while picking food from the water. There are three species: Red (Grey) Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) and Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) are regular passage migrants in the UK, Grey Phalarope being more regular. Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) is a rare bird, and I will not go into detail on this species in this post.
Red (Grey) Phalarope
Breeds in the Arctic and winters in the Atlantic off the west coast of Africa. Overall has a thicker bill than Red-necked or Wilson's Phalaropes, often with yellow near the base.
Adult female, summer plumage
An absolutely cracking plumage. Bright red underparts and neck, with a white cheeck-patch and a black cap. Upperparts are patterned black and brown. Yellow bill.
Adult male, summer plumage.
A far duller version of the adult female. Pink-orange below, with a rather dirty-looking face. Bill turning black towards the tip.
Adult winter
Very plain, with a plain grey back and white underparts. Hindcrown in back, with a blotchy dark eye-stripe. The base of the bill is pale.
Juvenile
The back is dark with thin buffish edging to the feathers. The neck is finely striped dark and buff. The cap is black and has a similar eye-stripe to the one seen in adult winter birds. In autumn, often seen while moulting. These moulting birds will show some greyish coverts and less buff on the neck.
Image source (moulting bird)
Red-necked Phalarope
Breeds further south than Grey Phalarope, with breeding populations on the Scottish islands. Winters in the Arabian Sea. Has a very thin, black bill.
Adult female, summer plumage
Another striking plumage, with a bright red neck, a dark breast and back, grey sides, a dark head and a white patch on the throat.
Adult male, summer plumage.
Again a duller version of adult female.
Adult winter
More patterned than winter Grey Phalarope, with white stripes on the neck and white edges to coverts making a 'scalloped' pattern. the black on the hindcrown is smaller and less well-marked.
Juvenile
Has more prominent stripes than Grey Phalarope, and less buff on the neck. The coverts have thicker buff edges, with the dark centres looking like streaks rather than circles. When moulting, the new coverts clearly show the white margin not seen in winter Grey Phalarope.
