Red Phalarope Research Articles

BREEDING BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE GREY PHALAROPE PHALAROPUS FULCARIUS IN EAST SIBERIA

SummaryStudies were made in 1970 in the Chukotski Peninsula, in 1971 in the delta of the Indigirka river and in 1972 in the delta of the Yana river. Grey Phalaropes inhabit polygonal and tussocky moss‐sedge tundra rich in swamps, lakes and (in June) temporary ponds. Population density in favourable habitats may reach 1–2 pairs ha‐1. Data on breeding chronology are presented, and various aggressive and courtship displays described. Most phalaropes seem to keep within a home range, sometimes large, during courtship time, but no defended territories and no forms of territorial behaviour exist. Many birds, both local nesters and wanderers, can feed on any pond. Sexual dimorphism is described. In 1970, three non‐breeding cock‐plumaged females were taken. Pairs are formed both before arrival and on the nesting grounds. All courtship displays are wholly or mostly initiated by females. In 1971, in the Indigirka delta, all the Grey Phalaropes were paired by 12 June, and stayed in pairs until the end of egg‐laying. In 1970, on the northern Chukotsk, phalaropes seemed to form no (or very few) permanent pairs. Throughout June, most birds occurred in mixed flocks constantly moving between lakes or ponds. Copulation seemed to be promiscuous within the local population; polyandry cannot be excluded in some cases. Pairs appeared to be created only for the time of egglaying; probably, the only biological role of pair‐formation is to find a male for incubating. Thus, a definite social system is not a species‐specific feature; it can vary depending on local and yearly situations, including probably sex ratio. Nests are usually situated in very wet places, sometimes on the water edge. They can be found as little as 3 m apart, but are usually 40–80 m apart, or further. Incubation begins after the second or third egg. After the end of egg‐laying, males drive females away from the nests, and pairs break up. Females and non‐breeders gather in flocks and move onto the lakes of maritime tundra, and later on to the sea. The composition of the flocks is not constant: they often join together or part. Brooding males feed near their nests, sometimes in groups; not unfrequently they join flocks of females and non‐breeders for some time. The normal average clutch‐size is c. 4 eggs; when nesting was delayed (in the central Indigirka delta in 1971) the average was 3–61. The loss of nests was great in 1971; numbers of young on 1–3 August was 10 times lower than adult numbers in June.

A new record of Phalaropus fulicarius from Japan Sea

A female bird of Phalaropus fulicarius was obtained by a farmer on the farmland on Nov. 22, 1973. It is a new record from Niigata city, Niigata Prefecture. Measurements and stomach contents are reported in this paper.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE BREEDING BEHAVIOUR OF GREY AND RED‐NECKED PHALAROPES

SUMMARYObservations were made on Grey and Red‐Necked Phalaropes near Chesterfield Inlet, N.W.T., Canada, from the date of their local arrival, 13 June, until 21 July 1967.The similarity of the colour of the Grey Phalarope nuptial plumage to that of dead seaweed among which the birds often feed is suggested as possibly relevant to the evolution of this plumage.A mutual Head Up pre‐copulatory display, first given by the female, is described in Grey Phalaropes. It is suggested to have the function of assuaging fear in the prospective partner and to be a prelude of only the first copulation between any two birds. Other displays are described and figured.Three full copulations, including their preliminaries, were observed in this species and two others in which the preliminary actions escaped observation. Three copulations took place on land and two on water. Of the three copulations observed with their preliminaries, two were initiated by some form of display by the female, and one, without any display, by the male. Eight attempted copulations were observed; all were initiated by males and all but one took place while the female was on land. One male which had just copulated was observed to attempt copulation with another female. In the course of three full or attempted copulations, another Grey Phalarope fluttered up against the mating pair.All Grey Phalarope copulations took place in a collective feeding area; little intra‐species antagonism was seen and no evidence of territorial behaviour. All female Grey Phalaropes left the colony under observation on the night of 9–10 July; only two eggs had by then been laid in one nest and the female of one pair had not laid at all.Six copulations and six attempted copulations were observed in Red‐necked Phalaropes; all took place on the water. Only in two of the copulations were the preliminaries observed; one was initiated by a display of the female, the other without any preliminary display by the male.Preliminary observations suggest specific differences in rate of spinning and in the preferred direction of spin. The functions and factors associated with spinning are discussed. Accelerated spinning with reduced frequency of pecks at the water by both members of a pair of Red‐necked Phalaropes was observed once and may have been a form of display.Head scratching, observed once in a Red‐necked Phalarope and several times in Wilson's, is by the direct method, supporting the view, based on the colour pattern of the downy young, that phalaropes are more akin to the sandpipers than to the avocets.

Polymorphus petrochenkoi sp. n. (Acanthocephala) from the Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius L., in Alaska

Polymorphus petrochenkoi sp. n. is described from a red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius L., from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, USA. It is different from all other species of Polymorphus in having an elongated trunk, reminiscent of Arhythmorhynchus. Seven acanthocephalans, collected by Dr. Robert L. Rausch from a red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius L., (Charadriiformes) at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, in 1953, were examined by the writer and found to represent a new species. The worms were stained with Semichon's carmine and mounted in Canada balsam for study. Drawings were made with the aid of a camera lucida and a microprojector. All measurements are in microns unless otherwise indicated. Polymorphus petrochenkoi sp. n. (Figs. 1-6) Description Trunk cylindrical, elongate, with no marked swelling near anterior end. Anterior end of trunk with field of small, evenly distributed spines, each 16 to 23 long. Sexual dimorphism of size apparent (Fig. 1). Neck fairly long. Proboscis (Fig. 2) fusiform. Armature equal in both sexes: 14 to 17 longitudinal rows of 10 to 12 hooks (Fig. 3). Each hook with pronounced cuticular theca around base. Last one or two hooks lacking roots but each possessing anteriorly-directed manubrium. Remaining hooks with strong roots. Hooks 40 to 59 long, except last two, which are 30 to 42 long. Anteriormost hooks delicate, becoming stouter posteriorly. Lemnisci wrinkled, extending well past end of proboscis receptacle. Male (Fig. 4): (One adult specimen) 14.4 mm long, 1.3 mm greatest width at level of testes. Proboscis 490 long, 190 greatest width. Neck 190 long, 190 wide at base. Trunk spines covering anterior 1.9 mm of trunk. Proboscis receptacle 900 long, 260 greatest width. Lemnisci equal, 1.2 mm long. Testes slightly pre-equatorial, tandem, elongate-oval; 1.4 to 1.5 mm long, 450 to 510 wide. Four tubular cement glands, two beginning near the posterior testis, two beginning somewhat farther back. Everted bursa not seen. Genital pore terminal. Female: (Five gravid specimens) 23.0 to 27.5 Received for publication 11 October 1968. mm long, 1.2 to 1.7 mm maximum width near equator of trunk. Posterior end of trunk (Fig. 5) simple, without papilla. Trunk spines covering anterior 1.9 mm of trunk. Proboscis 450 to 565 long, 226 to 258 greatest width. Neck 250 to 300 long, 250 to 260 wide at base. Proboscis receptacle 0.95 to 1.1 mm long, 240 to 280 greatest width. Lemnisci 1.5 mm long. Uterine bell (Fig. 5) 1.85 mm from terminal genital pore. Eggs (Fig. 6), measured through body wall, 65 to 73 long, 16 wide, with polar swellings of middle shell. Host: Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius L. Location: Intestine. Locality: St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, U. S. A. Type specimens: USNM Helm. Coll., holotype male no. 71408, allotype female no. 71409, paratype females no. 71410.

Observations on the Breeding Behaviour of Phalaropes

On 27 May 1967, I reached the settlement of Chesterfield Inlet (Igluliarjuk), Keewatin, Northwest Territories. No phalaropes were seen in the district until 13 June. On that day, red phalaropes ( Phalaropus fulicarius ) in considerable numbers and some northern phalaropes ( P. lobatus ) were seen at sea in the offing of, or flying over, one of the islets in the mouth of the inlet. During the next 10 days, phalaropes of both species used a mainland lagoon near the settlement, but their number here gradually declined and by the end of June they had deserted this locality completely. Some northern phalaropes nested on the mainland and others of this species at least attempted to nest on Promise Island (Nannuyuma), where 5 pairs of red phalaropes nested and a sixth pair made a nest (but apparently no eggs were laid). After the local spring passage, red phalaropes were seen only on Fairway (Pitiulaktok) and Promise islands. Breeding may well have taken place on Fairway, but a visit there at the appropriate time was not possible. The apparent definitive departure of the females from Promise Island after egg laying was observed on the night of 9-10 July. The newly hatched young of 1 pair still in the nest and guarded only by a male were found at this breeding station on 20 July. Three other males acted as if they had young hidden near the nests which were, by that time, empty. The eggs in the fifth nest had not hatched and this nest had evidently been deserted by the male. The 4 downy young found were weighed and banded. Confirming my earlier observations on Wilson's phalarope, no territorial behaviour was shown by red phalaropes on the mainland or on Promise Island. The association of red phalarope nesting with colonially breeding arctic terns ( Sterna paradisaea ), reported by Lovenskiold, as frequently observed in the Svalbard Archipelago (Spitsbergen), also applied to Promise Island. ... Local Eskimo bird and mammal names were collected in the Chesterfield Inlet area, and at Baker Lake a list restricted to bird names was made. The Eskimo names for prominent topographic features (on several of which the Canadian Army Survey markers were found) were recorded. General ornithological observations added 17 species to the local avifauna as it was known from previous published works. ... Proof of breeding of the following species, the local breeding status of which was either uncertain or unknown, was obtained: Canada goose ( Branta canadensis ), pintail ( Anas acuta ), sandhill crane, black guillemot ( Cepphus grylle ), savannah sparrow ( Passerculus sandwichensis ). Specimens of some of the rodents of the area were also secured. ...

ORNITHOLOGICAL TRANSECTS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

SUMMARYAn analysis is presented of observations made in the North Atlantic from 14 August to 10 September 1966, and comparisons are made with previously published data relating to this area. The majority of the records were obtained during transects along latitudes 55° N. and 58° N., but other data were collected in Labrador and Newfoundland coastal waters. During the period spent at sea 30 species were recorded, including five passerine species that came aboard ship. Manx Shearwaters were seen in Newfoundland waters where there have been few previous records. The record of a Balearic Shearwater appears to be the most northerly to date. Some evidence of correlation was found between the numbers of Great Shearwaters seen and the surface water temperature, but there was little evidence of correlation in the case of the Fulmar. Other points of interest are the records of moult in the Great Shearwater, and the records of Grey Phalaropes and Sabine's Gulls. An analysis of the skua movements suggests that the Arctic Skuas seen originated from Scandinavia, the Great Skuas from Iceland and the Pomarine and Long‐tailed Skuas from the Canadian arctic.

A Sight Record of the Red Phalarope in Alberta

A Sight Record of the Red Phalarope in Alberta

WINTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE GREY PHALAROPE PHALAROPUS FULICARIUS

Summary.1. Recent published and unpublished observations of Phalaropus fulicarius confirm the existence of a large wintering area off North‐west Africa, from Cape Blanco to Sierra Leone.2. Published observations in the South Atlantic off South Africa indicate the presence of wintering birds. Some birds have been recorded well inland (probably. vagrants).3. Phalaropes off North‐west Africa seem most concentrated where the plankton is densest. Probably the same holds good for the south, though no great numbers have been seen here yet.4. The parallel of the Humboldt Current off South America lends support to the belief in a wintering area off the Cape.

The Red Phalarope in Florida

The Red Phalarope in Florida

A Red Phalarope in Tennessee

A Red Phalarope in Tennessee

Grey Phalaropes off the West Coast of Africa

Grey Phalaropes off the West Coast of Africa

Migration of the Red Phalarope off Massachusetts

Migration of the Red Phalarope off Massachusetts

Red Phalarope in Michigan

Red Phalarope in Michigan

Red Phalarope at Oyster Bay, Long Island

Red Phalarope at Oyster Bay, Long Island

On Phalaropus fulicarius jourdaini Iredale.

IbisVolume 77, Issue 4 p. 887-888 On Phalaropus fulicarius jourdaini Iredale. Allan Brooks., Allan Brooks.Search for more papers by this author Allan Brooks., Allan Brooks.Search for more papers by this author First published: October 1935 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1935.tb01641.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume77, Issue4October 1935Pages 887-888 RelatedInformation

The Red Phalarope off South Carolina

The Red Phalarope off South Carolina

The Red Phalarope in New Jersey

The Red Phalarope in New Jersey

Red Phalarope in Ocean County, N. J.

Red Phalarope in Ocean County, N. J.

Another Record of the Red Phalarope in Ohio

Another Record of the Red Phalarope in Ohio

The Wintering Area of the Red and Northern Phalaropes

The Wintering Area of the Red and Northern Phalaropes