Wilson's Phalarope -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 8 - 9.5 inches | Wingspan: 14 - 16 inches | Seasonality: Summer |
| ID Keys: Long thin bill, black and rusty stripes on spring female's neck | ||
|
|
|
|
Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor
The Wilson's Phalarope is the largest of the phalarope species, and is usually quite tame and approachable within the state. They feed like many phalaropes, spinning in circles on the water to bring food items to the surface. Also like the other phalaropes, sex roles are somewhat reversed. Female phalaropes are the more brightly plumaged of the two sexes, and after the females lay eggs, they begin migrating southward, leaving incubation of eggs to the male. This is the only phalarope that leads its entire life on the interior of the continent.
Habitat: Marshes, shallow lakes and ponds, mudflats.
Diet: Mostly aquatic insects and crustaceans. Also some vegetable matter.
Nesting: Late May through June
Breeding Map: Breeding bird survey map
Song: Generally silent.
Migrations: Summers throughout much of the Northern Plains, western U.S., and southern Canada. May fly non-stop to wintering grounds in South America. They are very fond of saline environments on the interior, with very large numbers stopping to feed in places like the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Similar Species: Red-Necked Phalarope
Status: Declining in parts of its range due to habitat loss.
Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Wilson's Phalarope
2) eNature.com: Wilson's Phalarope
Photo Information: June 2nd, 2002 -- Long Lake near Madison -- Terry L. Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Wilson's Phalarope photos.
Proud Member Of:
Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08