Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

Order: Charadriiformes | Family: Scolopacidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

wilson's_phalarope
Age: Adult, basic plumage | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Lake Junin

wilson's_phalarope
Age: Adult, Alternate plumage | Sex: Unknown | Loc. North America

wilson's_phalarope
Age: Adult, basic plumage | Sex: Unknown | Loc. North America

wilson's_phalarope
Age: Adult, transitional basic plumage | Sex: Unknown | Loc. North America

Identification & Behavior: ~23 cm (9 in). The Wilson’s Phalarope in basic plumage has pale gray upperparts and white face and rest of the underparts. The bill is relatively long and thin. The legs are yellowish. The adult female has an ornate plumage with shades of gray and brown and a dark stripe from the base of the bill, across the eye and down the sides of the neck. In basic plumage is similar to Red Phalarope and Red-necked Phalarope, but is distinguished by having no black ear patch.

Status: The Wilson’s Phalarope is a common Boreal migrant mostly to Andean lakes and lagoons during the months of August through May, but some individuals overwinter in South America. It is rare along the coast and in Amazonia. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Faláropo Tricolor.

Sub-species: Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor), Vieillot 1819.

Meaning of Name: Phalaropus: Gr. phalaris= coot; and pous= foot. tricolor: L. tri=three, number three.

See more of the Family Scolopacidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
wilson's phalaropeVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 01/01/2015.