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  • Red-necked phalarope

Red-necked phalarope

Red-necked phalarope (adult female)
Red-necked phalarope (adult female)
Red-necked phalarope (winter plumage)
Red-necked phalarope (winter plumage)
  • Scientific name: Phalaropus lobatus
  • Bird family: Sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes
  • UK conservation status: Red
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Audio

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Dougie Preston, xeno-canto

Key information

These small, delicate waders are adapted well to spending a lot of time on water. Unlike other waders, phalaropes have lobed toes which enable them to swim strongly when on pools or out at sea. They spend most of their time in the water but can equally run about on land. The duller coloured male looks after the eggs and young after laying. As a rare UK breeding species it is a Red List bird. They are listed under Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act.

What they eat:

Mainly insects.

Measurements:

Length:
17-19cm
Wingspan:
32-41cm
Weight:
27-48g

Population:

UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.
UK breeding:
22 males
UK passage:
30 birds

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.

Red-necked phalarope (adult female)

Red-necked phalarope, summer plumage
Feather colour: Black Brown Grey Orange Red White Yellow
Leg colour: Black
Beak: Black Long Thin
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Wetland

Red-necked phalarope (winter plumage)

 Red Necked Phalarope, winter plumage
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Grey White Yellow
Leg colour: Black
Beak: Black Long Thin
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Wetland

Similar birds:

Grey phalarope
Grey phalarope
Sanderling illustration
Sanderling

Where and when to see them

Small numbers of red-necked phalaropes breed on the Western and Northern Isles of Scotland. Birds are also seen on passage in the autumn, usually along the east coast.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
Red-necked phalarope distribution map

The red-necked phalaropes arrive back at their breeding grounds in May. Females start to leave in June, with males and young departing in July and August. Best looked for on passage in August and September.

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RSPB reserves

  • RSPB Fetlar
  • RSPB Loch na Muilne

Video

A red-necked phalarope goes for a swim

A red-necked phalarope goes for a swim

Red-necked phalarope video screenshot

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