PHALAROPODID^E : Phalaropes 



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PHALAROPODID^E (Family Phalaropes) are water-birds, best de- 

 scribed as swimming snipes. Toes lobed; plumage very thick and water- 

 proof; bill slender, remarkably so in one species. Food small insects taken 

 from the water's surface. Females larger and more brightly colored than 

 males, which assume duties of incubation and feeding the young. 



California Ocean Mi- 

 grant Aug.-Nov. and Apr. 

 May Occasional on tide- 

 flats along the coast; rarely in- 

 land. Sometimes sick and dead 

 birds, victims of disease, are 

 washed ashore in numbers. 

 Supposed to winter on oceans 

 far southward. 



Red Phalarope 



Southern Californian 

 Migrant Aug.-Oci. and 

 Apr.-May, when abundant 

 on tide-flats and shallow, 

 muddy sloughs. Occurs in 

 vast flocks in spring mi- 

 gration. Supposed to winter 

 on the ocean south of the 

 equator. 



Northern Phalarope 



Southern California 

 Migrant Generally rare. 

 Of regular occurrence, some- 

 times in flocks; more often 

 singly or small groups, with 

 the Northern species. On 

 tide-flats or muddy pond- 

 margins. 



Arizona Occasionally 

 recorded, in migration. 



Wilson Phalarope 



