female beginning molt into breeding plumage (California, USA; 2006-04-30)


Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor

Native Range: North America

Notes: nests in ponds on the Great Plains of the USA and Prairie Provinces of Canada, wintering farther south; found on mudflats and shallow ponds but never at sea; like all phalaropes, shows sex-role-reversal in the sense that females are more brightly colored, court males, and may seduce multiple males who then tend the nests and clutches.


adult in nonbreeding plumage; long thin bill (California, USA; 2007-08-06)
frontal view; note yellow legs (California, USA; 2007-08-06)

juvenile; scaly pattern on back (California, USA; 2007-08-06)
juvenile (left) and nonbreeder adult (right) (California, USA; 2007-08-06)

in flight showing gray back, white rump patch (California, USA; 2007-08-06)
nonbreeder adults and juveniles (California, USA; 2007-08-06)