Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius), Sweetwater Wetlands, Pima County

This Red Phalarope was photographed by Andrew Core on 11 April 2012

Red Phalaropes are casual transients in Arizona. Although they have occurred in nearly every month of the year, they are mostly found in the late fall and early winter. This Red Phalarope is in basic (non-breeding) plumage, though a few red feathers were beginning to show in the head and chest.

The thick bill with yellow at the base separate this individual from Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes. The back is a relatively uniform gray, and lacks the white fringes to the mantle and scapular feathers that are visible on a Red-necked Phalarope.

11 April 2012, photo by Andrew Core

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