PHALAROPES 



(222) Phalaropus fulicarius 



{Linn.) (Gr., coot, [oot; Lat., coot-like). 



RED PHALAROPE. Feet 

 lobate- webbed. Ad. 9 — Plumage 

 as shown by the nearest bird; the 

 chestnut parts have a somewliat 

 hoarj' or frosty appearance. The 

 d' is smaller and not so brightly 

 colored. In ivinter — Plumage as 

 shown by the bird in the background; 

 quite variable but chiefly white on 

 the head and under parts. The 

 young are similar, below, to winter 

 adults, but are streaked brown, black 

 and gray above. L., 7.75; W., 5.25; 

 Tar., .75; B., .90. Eggs — Three 

 or four, greenish-buff, spotted and 

 blotched with black, 1.20 x .85,* 



Range — Breeds in the Arctic 

 regions. Migrates off both coasts 

 of the U. S. 



During nesting time they are very noisy and upon the 

 slightest provocation all the Coots in the marsh will break 

 out into noisy, high-pitched cackling. The nests are built 

 of reeds and grasses on reclining masses of rushes, in the 

 hollow of which the numerous finely specked eggs are laid. 



Order LIMICOL,^. Shore Birds 

 Family PHALAROPODIDiE. Ph.4l.4Ropes 



A small family of small shore birds having thick, duck-like 

 plumage and lobate-webbed feet — consequently being good 

 swimmers. 



RED PHALAROPES are quite abundant as breeding 

 birds in the northern half of Canada. Within our borders 

 they are found only as migrants and then chiefly along the 

 sea-coasts. We see them only in their winter dress, in which 

 plumage they are generally known as Gray Phalaropes, or 

 "Sea Snipe." Most of them migrate well off shore, not 



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