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9

Red Phalarope

(Phalaropus fulicarius)
Alternate name(s): "Grey Phalarope"
German name(s): "Thorshühnchen"

Size: 20-22 cm; wing span: 36-43 cm
Weight: 55 g (average)
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Red Phalarope at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, February 2023]

Frontal view of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage; the rufous bar on the chest is from algae (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage; the rufous bar on the chest is from algae (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage feeding on something; the rufous bar on the chest is from algae (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, February 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, February 2023]

Dorsal view of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a small mob of Red Phalaropes in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Papoa, near Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a small mob of Red Phalaropes in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Papoa, near Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral comparison of a Red Phalarope in non-breeding plumage in flight with a European Shag in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Papoa, near Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a first-winter Red Phalarope (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a first-winter Red Phalarope (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a first-winter Red Phalarope, in comparison with a Black-headed Gull (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a first-winter Red Phalarope in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a first-winter Red Phalarope in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Red Phalarope in transitional plumage from juvenile to first-winter - note how the wing coverts are already light-grey, while the black primaries are still juvenile feathers (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Parc des Buttes Chaumonts, 19th district, Paris, France, October 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Red Phalarope in transitional plumage from juvenile to first-winter (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Parc des Buttes Chaumonts, 19th district, Paris, France, October 2020]

Lateral view of a Red Phalarope in transitional plumage from juvenile to first-winter (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Parc des Buttes Chaumonts, 19th district, Paris, France, October 2020]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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