Red Phalarope

The red phalarope, or grey phalarope, is a small wader about 21cm long with lobed toes and a straight bill, somewhat thicker than the red-necked phalarope's. The breeding female is predominantly dark brown and black above with red underparts and white cheek patches and a yellow, black-tipped bill; the breeding male is a duller version. Young birds are light grey and brown above with buff underparts and a dark patch through the eye, and the bill is black in winter (Wikipedia, general species account).

It breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia and is migratory, unusually for a wader migrating mainly on oceanic routes and wintering at sea on tropical oceans. Females pursue males and compete for nesting territory; after laying olive-brown eggs they begin their southward migration, leaving the males to incubate and care for the young (Wikipedia, general species account).