The red phalarope or grey phalarope is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is migratory, and, unusually for a wader, migrates mainly on oceanic routes, wintering at sea on tropical oceans.
Region
Circumpolar Arctic and tropical oceans
Typical Environment
Breeds across the high Arctic of North America and Eurasia, nesting on wet tundra near shallow pools and marshy edges. Outside the breeding season it is highly pelagic, occurring far offshore along oceanic fronts and upwelling zones. During migration it follows oceanic routes, often congregating where converging currents concentrate plankton. Wintering occurs mainly on tropical and subtropical oceans, occasionally approaching coasts during storms.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the grey phalarope, this species breeds on Arctic tundra and spends most of the year far out at sea. Females are more brightly colored and compete for mates, while males incubate the eggs and raise the young. Red phalaropes often spin in tight circles on water to create small vortices that bring prey to the surface. They migrate along oceanic routes and winter on tropical oceans, a rarity among waders.
Phalaropus fulicarius - MHNT
Temperament
social and pelagic
Flight Pattern
strong, direct flight with rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Forms loose colonies on tundra, nesting close to shallow pools. Exhibits reversed sexual roles: females court multiple males, and males perform incubation and chick-rearing. At sea, gathers in flocks along productive water lines and fronts.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are mostly sharp, nasal kip and kweet notes, especially in flight or alarm. On breeding grounds, gives soft chatters and trills during display, but overall lacks a complex song.
Plumage
Breeding birds show rich rufous-red underparts with slate-grey upperparts and a crisp white cheek; nonbreeding birds are mostly pale grey above and white below with a dark ear patch.
Diet
Takes small aquatic invertebrates, including insects and their larvae on tundra pools. At sea, feeds primarily on zooplankton and tiny crustaceans such as copepods, along with fish eggs and other surface-drifting prey. Often uses a characteristic spinning behavior to stir prey to the surface and plucks items with precise pecks.
Preferred Environment
Forages while swimming on calm tundra ponds during breeding. In the nonbreeding season, prefers oceanic convergence zones, upwellings, and slicks where plankton concentrates, often far from land.
