Phalaropes (Phalaropus)
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While the official North American Phalarope (Phalaropus) population consists of three species, for all intent and purposes, only two species record native populations.
The Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus), top picture, a small to medium sized shorebird, breeds in the northern Arctic region.
It spends most of the year on the open ocean looking for food. During non-breeding season, especially migration, it inhabits a variety of salt and freshwater environments.
Adults display a chestnut patch of feathers on their front and back sides, below the head.
The top picture shows a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope practicing tradition phalarope feeding activity. They tend to swim in circles, causes upwelling of bottom dwelling insects and other organisms in their shallow water feeding grounds.
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor), picture two, inhabits fresh and salt water areas of the south.
The dark eye stripe and a longer than average bill provide initial field identification marks.
They breed in fresh water environments around the upper Midwest and Northwest, making them visible to many in the surrounding areas during migration.
Scientists lack conclusive population data on the species with reports of low populations at some normal migration sites in the West. However, those population drops may be better correlated with season drought patterns rather than the phalarope's long term population trends.
Like other shorebirds, phalarope diets consist of the insects and aquatic organisms common to their breeding or wintering habitat.
© 2006-2011 Patricia A. Michaels