SHORE BIRDS Order Limicolae 

 PHALAROPES Family Phalaropodidae 



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. 



