Phalaropes are rare winter visitors to the Hawaiian Islands. Among the three species that have been recorded here, the Wilsonʻs Phalarope and the Red Phalarope occur with the greatest frequency. It is unusual among shorebirds because of the manner in which it feeds.The feet of the phalarope are partially lobed, a characteristic that allows it to swim. When feeding on the water, they sometimes spin in tight circles, creating a vortex that stirs up food from the mud beneath them. The Wilsonʻs Phalarope has a long, thin, needle-like bill. Birds seen in the winter months in Hawai`i are gray above and white below. The face is white with a gray eye stripe.
The audio is courtesy of Xeno-Canto (www.xeno-canto.org). Catalogue #XC105342 was recorded by Andrew Spencer at the Monte Vista NWR in Colorado, USA.
