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.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"work work"

Interesting Facts

 The Wilson's Phalarope was first described in 1819 by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot, a French ornithologist. Its common name commemorates the American ornithologist Alexander Wilson.

 The draining of prairie wetland breeding habitat and the diversion of water from major staging areas pose threats to this colorful shorebird.

 This bird is the largest of the phalaropes, and is often very tame and approachable. Unlike the other phalaropes, this species does not have fully lobed toes and so rarely swims, spending no time at sea.

 A group of phalaropes has many collective nouns, including a "dopping", "swirl", "twirl", "whirl", and "whirligig" of phalaropes.

Author

Gary Owen Dick