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Project Noah Nature School
Phalaropus tricolor
This phalarope is about 23 cm (9.1 in) in length. It is well-adapted to be a swimmer with its lobed toes. The bill is straight and black. Breeding females (second photo) are gray and brown above and white below with a rusty-colored neck. Breeding males (first photo) are duller with a brown back and lacking the reddish patches of the female.
Wetlands and wet meadows during breeding season; lakeshores and wetlands during migration and winter.
The roles of the genders are reversed in this species. Males are colored more dully than the females, females are larger than the male and actively defend the nest and nesting territory.
Spotted on Jun 8, 2010
Submitted on Feb 26, 2012
1 Comment
Lovely!