General Description: Red-necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) are very small, short-legged shore birds that migrate through the Las Vegas area. Phalaropes are most easily recognized by their curious behavior of sitting on the water and swimming quickly in tight circles. This behavior creates a vortex that pulls deep water to the surface, which in turn brings aquatic bugs to the surface where Phalaropes can catch them.

Red-necked Phalaropes are recognized in breeding plumage by overall dark colors with bright red on the neck and bright white on the throat. In winter plumage, they lose the red and most of the dark, but retain a black back streaked with white and a bold black eye patch. When seen, the legs are dark.

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae, Scolopacinae.

Favored Habitat: Ponds and marshes.

Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, look for this species at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the Pahranagat Valley, and the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

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