Diet
During the breeding season, the red-necked phalarope eats
insects,
crustaceans, and mollusks. The red-necked phalarope isn't built for diving, so on the ocean it
skims
zooplankton
and
small crustaceans and mollusks off of the surface of the water.
It is often found in areas where
ocean currents meet and create and an upswelling of water that brings food to the surface of the water.
Like the
red phalarope, it also swims in circles to create whirlpools to bring food up to the water's surface.
Life Cycle
Like the red phalarope, the male and female red-necked phalarope switch traditional roles during breeding season! The female red-necked phalarope arrives at the breeding grounds first and establishes a breeding territory. She tries to attract a mate with a display flight. Both the male and the female create a scrape in the ground. The female picks the best one! The scrape is lined with lichen, moss, and grass. The female lays 4 eggs and then leaves. Sometimes she even tries to attract another mate and may have a second brood! The male incubates the eggs for 17-21 days and then cares for the chicks. The chicks are
precocial and leave the nest and feed themselves shortly after hatching. The male stays with the chicks until they are 2 weeks old. The chicks fledge when they are
16-18
days old.
Behavior
The red-necked phalarope
is a solitary bird in the winter, but in the summer it gathers in large flocks.
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