General

Wilson's Phalarope: Medium-sized, long-legged sandpiper with gray-brown upperparts and thick, red-brown streaks on back and shoulders. Underparts are white with red-brown markings on upper sides. Gray crown, white face, and black eye-line that continues down neck. Bill is black and needle-like. Wings are gray with darker flight feathers. Tail and rump are white. Female is brighter, has pale gray crown and grayer upperparts. Winter adult resembles female but lacks red-brown markings on neck and back; eyestripes end at back of head.

Range and Habitat

Wilson's Phalarope: Breeds in wetlands scattered throughout interior western North America and winters in South America. Preferred habitats include grassy borders of shallow lakes, marshes, reservoirs, and inland saltwater lakes. Found in inland saline lakes of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru during winter.

Breeding and Nesting

Wilson's Phalarope: Four buff eggs with brown blotches are laid in a ground scrape lined with fine grass. Incubation ranges from 18 to 21 days and is carried out by the male.

Foraging and Feeding

Wilson's Phalarope: Feeds on larvae of mosquitoes and crane flies, brine shrimp, and seeds of various aquatic plants. Generally forages by probing mud with its bill; also forages while swimming, sometimes in circles to create a vortex, bringing small invertebrates to the surface.

Vocalization

Wilson's Phalarope: Utters deep, nasal "work work" on breeding grounds.

Similar Species

Wilson's Phalarope: Red-necked Phalarope has dark head and back. Lesser Yellowlegs has yellow legs and streaked underparts.