Red-necked Phalarope Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesRed-necked Phalarope
Breeding female
Small, dainty shorebird that sits high on the water, with a slender neck and very thin, sharp bill. Breeding birds are dark gray above with a rusty neck and a dark gray cap.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 25, 2020Breeding male
Breeding males are less bright than females and tend to be more brownish gray above than dark gray.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 15, 2013Breeding female
Picks at the water's surface for zooplankton. Often feeds by spinning frantically in circles, drawing invertebrates up to the surface to eat.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryNorthwest Territories, June 01, 1997Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding adult/immature
Small shorebird with a long, thin bill. Nonbreeders are white below with a gray back. Note the black ear patch.
© Dean LaTray / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 03, 2020Juvenile
Juvenile look similar to nonbreeding birds, but have buffy stripes on the back.
© Darryl Ryan / Macaulay LibraryOntario, September 08, 2019Juvenile
In flight, note the darker marks on the underwings when comparing with Red Phalarope in flight.
© Brian SullivanCalifornia, September 13, 2008Similar SpeciesRed Phalarope
Breeding female
Breeding Red Phalaropes have entirely rusty underparts unlike Red-necked Phalaropes, which have a gray breast and a white belly.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 28, 2014Similar SpeciesRed Phalarope
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding Red Phalaropes have unstreaked pale gray backs, unlike nonbreeding Red-necked Phalaropes that have streaking or mottling on the back.
© Look! It's Adoga Big Nose! / Macaulay LibraryChiayi County, February 04, 2016Similar SpeciesRed Phalarope
Nonbreeding (top) with Red-necked Phalaropes
In flight, Red Phalaropes have cleaner white underwings than Red-necked Phalaropes, which have dark markings on the underwings.
© Luke SeitzMassachusetts, August 29, 2010Similar SpeciesWilson's Phalarope
Breeding male
Wilson's Phalaropes are larger than Red-necked Phalaropes with a dark stripe through the eye that Red-necked Phalaropes lack.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, May 28, 2017Similar SpeciesWilson's Phalarope
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding Wilson's Phalaropes lack the dark ear patch seen on nonbreeding Red-necked Phalaropes.
© Josh Fecteau / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 16, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
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