female summer

female summer winter European distribution 1st winter

Identification

In Europe they are mostly seen in winter plumage when they are pale grey, with white underparts, a dark bill and thick black line through the eye. The lack of stripes on the back and the shorter, thicker bill distinguish them from Red-necked Phalaropes. In summer, the adults are almost entirely red on their underparts (not just around the neck) and have a black and white head pattern and a mostly yellow bill. The juveniles have streaks on the mantle like Red-necked Phalaropes but these soon disappear as they moult into first-winter plumage.

Habitat

Winters at sea. Occurs closer to the shore in bad weather, sometimes even on coastal or inland pools.

Behaviour

This is one of the few species in which the female does the displaying and the male takes care of the eggs and the young. (See also Red-necked Phalarope and Dotterel)

Migration

Palearctic birds winter off the west coast of Africa.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Grey Phalarope is classed as Scarce: broadly speaking, species that are covered in British Birds' annual review of scarce species (and forms of similar rarity).

Yverdon, Vaud, Switzerland 23/10/2005	Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincs 24/01/2010	Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincs 24/01/2010	Pennington Marshes, Hants 05/12/2009	Pennington Marshes, Hants 05/12/2009
Amberley Wild Brooks, W Sussex 05/12/2009	Amberley Wild Brooks, W Sussex 05/12/2009	Amberley Wild Brooks, W Sussex 05/12/2009	Amberley Wild Brooks, W Sussex 04/12/2009	Amberley Wild Brooks, W Sussex 04/12/2009

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Grey Phalarope breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Greenland
Iceland
Russia
Svalbard

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