The red phalarope or grey phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) is a small wader. The name Phalarope comes from a Latin/Greek combination meaning coot foot – phalaropes have lobed toes like coots. Breeding females are brighter and more contrasting than males with a reddish body, black cap and white cheek. Males have a streaky cap, but both have a yellow bill with a black tip. Nonbreeding colouring explains the change in name from red to grey phalarope – smooth grey above and white below with a black ear patch. It breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia and reverses the normal male/female roles - females take the lead in courtship, and males are left to incubate the eggs and care for the young.
See also: Grey phalarope
