NOBTHEEN PHALAEOFE 329 



been seen within our boundaries during the winter season are prob- 

 ably cases of stragglers that have been detached from the migrating 

 flocks. The Avinter home of the species is not definitely known but 

 it is believed to be the open ocean south of the equator and the birds 

 are thought to feed and sleep on the water during the winter months 

 (Cooke, 1910, p. 16). 



The Phalaropes as a group may be distinguislied as the only w^ad- 

 ing birds which habitually swim or rest on the surface of the water. 

 This, coupled with the peculiar whirling motion, characteristic at 

 least of the Red and Northern, M'ill serve to identify them on the 

 water. In flight their small size, direct course, and color markings 

 must be depended upon. The Northern Phalai-ope nuiy be dis- 

 tinguished from the Wilson by its smaller size, and, in the breeding 

 season, by the relatively larger amount of 

 reddish on the neck and throat. From the 

 Red it may be distinguished in the breed- 

 ing season, of course, by the restriction of 

 reddish to the neck and throat, but in the '^^^ '^^^^ 



fall and winter plumage chieflv bv its ^. _„ ^ 



,, , 1 T 1 , ■-, ' , Fig. 58. Side of l)ill 



smaller head and extremely slender neck of Northern Phalarope. 



(Torrey, 1913, pp. 52, 53). Natural size. 



The Northern Phalarope is at nearly all Note slender form, and 



times of the vear a gregarious species espe- ^^^^^^ xxmler l.OO inch 

 '^ "^ *^ ^ (compare with figs. o7 



cially in feeding and migrating. Even and 59). 



when nesting, pairs remain in the near 



neighborhood of one another. While it resorts to the shores of inland 

 ponds or streams to nest and ma}' sometimes be found in such locali- 

 ties at other seasons of the year, it spends the greater part of the 

 year in the vicinity of or on salt water. At times this bird associates 

 with the Red Phalarope, occasionally in large numbers, especially 

 while out on the ocean, as for example near Monterey. It may also 

 join with some of the sandpipers in feeding, but the species is more 

 commonly found in flocks containing only those of its own kind. The 

 call-note of the adult Northern Phalarope may be described as a 

 plaintive pleet, plcet, or peet, peet. It is also credited with a note 

 resembling ivit, wit, wit (Saunders, 1899, p. 568). 



During the breeding season and to a less extent during migration 

 the Northern Phalarope feeds along beaches or in muddy creeks at 

 low tide, but it spends most of its time on the water, either while 

 resting or feeding. When on the water the birds have a habit of 

 whirling about rapidly. On this account they have been given the 

 name of "whirligig birds." This movement is evidently for the pur- 

 pose of bringing to the surface some of the minute animal life which 

 serves as food, and the movement is used most effectively in shallow 



