Description:

The chunkiest and a straight bill, somewhat thicker than that of red-necked phalarope. In breeding is dark brown and black above, with red underparts, white cheek patches and black tipped yellow bill. In winter, grey above, white below with black bill, but the black eyepatch is always present.

Distribution:

Vagrant during passage migration to Gilgit-Baltistan, with a single record from Hunza. Usually found in open seas, makes short stops around lakes, marshes, streams and rivers. During passage from lowlands up to 3000m high.

Behavior:

When feeding, will often swim in a small, rapid circle, forming a small whirlpool. The bird will reach into the outskirts of the vortex with its bill, plucking small insects or crustaceans caught up therein. Diet chiefly insects, especially dipteran flies and their larvae, as well as beetles, caddisflies, ants and bugs; also other small invertebrates, including snails, crustaceans and annelid worms; some seeds.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Red Phalarope in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Red Phalarope

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.