324 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFORNIA 



When the Red Phalarope first arrives on its breeding grounds in 

 the far north, during the latter part of May or the first few days of 

 June, flocks of fifty or more individuals are the rule. A little later 

 the birds pair off, but are still to be found associated together and 

 feeding in scattering companies on the slightly flooded grassy flats. 

 A vivid description of their behavior at this season was secured by 

 Nelson (1887. p. 97) in western Alaska, and is as follows: 



A little later in the day, as their hunger became satisfied, they began to 

 unite into parties until fifteen or twenty birds would rise and pursue an erratic 

 course over the flat. As they passed swiftly along stray individuals and pairs 

 might be seen to spring up and join the flock. Other flocks would rise and 

 the smaller coalesce with the larger until from two to three or even four 

 hundred birds were gathered in a single flock. As the size of the flock 

 increased, its movements became more and more irregular. At one moment 

 they would glide straight along the ground, then change to a wayward flight, 

 back and forth, twisting about with such rapidity that it was diflicult to follow 

 them with the eye. Suddenly their course would change, and the compact flock, 

 as if animated by a single impulse, would rise high overhead, and, after a 

 series of graceful and swift evolutions, come sweeping down with a loud, 

 rushing sound to resume their playful course near the ground. During all 

 their motions the entire flock moves in such unison that the alternate flashing 

 of the under sides of their wings and the dark color of the back, like the play 

 of light and shade, makes a beautiful spectacle. When wearied of their 

 sport the flock disbands and the birds again resume their feeding. 



The nesting habits of all the Phalaropes are peculiar in that the 

 male performs most of the duties in other birds alloted to the female. 

 In complementary fashion it is the female that does the courting. 

 From his observation of the Red Phalarope in northeastern Greenland, 

 Manniche (1910, pp. 153-154) writes: 



When the male had been eagerly searching food for some twenty minutes, 

 often standing on his head in the water like a duck to fish or pick up some- 

 thing from the bottom, he would lie down on a tuft stretching out his one 

 leg and his one wing as if he would fully enjoy the rest after his exertions. 

 The female for some moments was lying quietly and mutely in the middle of 

 the pool; suddenly she began with increasing rapidity to whirl around on the 

 surface of the water always in the same little circle, the diameter of which 

 was some 10 cm. [2i^ inches]. As the male seemed to pay no attention to her 

 alluring movements she flew rapidly up to him — producing as she left the 

 water a peculiar whirling sound with her wings and uttering short angry 

 cries — pushed him with her bill, and then she returned to the water and took 

 up her swimming dance. Now the male came out to her and the two birds 

 whirled around for some moments equally eager and with increasing rapidity. 

 Uttering a short call the female again flew to a tuft suTrounded by water and 

 waited some seconds in vain for the male; again she flew to the water to induce 

 him with eager pushes and thumps to accompany her. They again whirled 

 violently around, whereafter she, uttering a strong alluring sound flew back to 

 the tuft this time accompanied by the male — and the pairing immediately took, 

 place. 



