Wilson's Phalarope
Wilson's Phalarope: Medium sandpiper, gray-brown upperparts, red-brown streaks on back, shoulders. White underparts with red-brown markings on upper sides. Gray crown, white face, black eye-line that continues down neck. Black needle-like bill. Gray wings with dark flight feathers. White tail, rump.
● Song:
"work work"
● Foraging & 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.
● Breeding & 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.
● Similar species:
Wilson's Phalarope: Red-necked Phalarope has dark head and back. Lesser Yellowlegs has yellow legs and streaked underparts.
● Range & 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.