SHORE BIRDS—Order Limicoie 
PHALAROPES—Family Phalaropodide 
RED PHALAROPE 
222. Phalaropus fulicarius. 8 in. 
Bill heavier than any of the other phalaropes; feet 
lobate-webbed. Adults in summer have the entire under- 
parts reddish brown; side of head white; upper parts 
gray. white and black. In winter, head and underparts 
are white: back gray. Phalaropes differ from any other 
of our birds, in that the female is the larger and brighter 
plumaged bird, and the duties of incubation are largely 
or chiefly performed by the male bird. These phalaropes 
are very rarely seen in the United States in their breed- 
ing plumage; when they come in the Fall, nearly all 
have changed to their dull winter dress, and they keep 
this until after they leave us in the Spring. 
Nest.—A hollow in the ground, lined with a few 
grasses; eggs greenish buff, spotted with blackish. 
Range.—Breeds in the Arctic regions: winters south 
to New York, Calif., and Ohio, chiefly on the sea coasts. 
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