Red-Necked Phalarope Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Red-Necked Phalarope are a very rare sight in the UK and are generally only seen on western and northern Scottish islands. Having said that, it is possible to spot an occasional bird during the spring and autumn migration but even then sightings are limited to just the east coast.
Red-Necked Phalaropes are grey with a dark patch close to the eye and on the head during the non-breeding season. During the breeding season the female has a white chin, rusty-red band on the neck, a grey breast and a dark back. Males are far duller with grey backs and white underparts.
Both have a thin, sharp black bill, black or dark grey legs and lobed toes. To find out more about these interesting rare waders, keep reading.
Table of Contents
How Long Does A Red-Necked Phalarope Live?
Red-Necked Phalaropes have a typical lifespan of around 5 years and they reach sexual maturity at around the age of one year.
Having said that, the oldest recorded Red-Necked Phalarope was 12 years, 10 months and 20 days old according to ring data.
How Fast Can A Red-Necked Phalarope Fly?
The Red-Necked Phalarope is a small migratory bird that can reach speeds of around 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 km/h). This speed enables it to travel long distances during its migration.
Many Red-Necked Phalaropes fly thousands of miles between their breeding grounds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia and their wintering grounds which are often off the coasts of Ecuador and Peru.
Are Red-Necked Phalaropes Aggressive?
In a role reversal for many birds, the female Red-Necked Phalarope is incredibly aggressive when defending their male partner and breeding territory. Females compete fiercely for mates and it’s not uncommon for several females to all fight over one individual male.
The male will also protect the nesting site once it’s been established and will display aggressive tendencies towards any intruders. Outside of the breeding season, they are completely non-territorial and are often spotted in relatively large groups at feeding grounds.
What Is A Red-Necked Phalarope’s Habitat?
The habitat of the Red-Necked Phalarope varies and changes with the season and location. They breed in the Arctic tundra and tundra-forest boundary, near lakes, bogs, and marshes. They nest on tundra from Alaska to Greenland, across northern Canada, and in coastal Scandinavia and Russia.
During the migration period, they can be found in a number of different watery habitats which include; offshore, along the coast and inland areas as well.
In winter, they spend their time at sea in areas where the current brings plankton to the water’s surface. Some spend their time on inland ponds during winter with most spending the winter offshore in the Pacific around the coasts of southern Mexico and as far round as the Galapagos Islands.
How Long Does It Take For A Red-Necked Phalarope To Build A Nest?
The male is responsible for building the nest which typically takes anywhere between 2 or 3 days to a week to complete. Red-Necked Phalaropes make a simple scrape nest which is formed by the male which is then lined with grass, moss and other localised vegetation.
In a role reversal, female Red-Necked Phalaropes are brighter coloured than males, compete aggressively for their chosen male against other females and leaves the nest building and chick rearing to the male.
Eggs
Once the pair are satisfied with the nest, the female will lay her eggs. This is typically the last she will have to do with rearing the next generation of Red-Necked Phalaropes.
When Do Red-Necked Phalaropes Lay Eggs?
The pair will typically arrive at their breeding grounds in May and mate during late May or early June. The eggs are usually laid between early June and mid July.
The exact timing of the egg laying is dependent on the weather and availability of sufficient food supplies.
How Many Eggs Does A Red-Necked Phalarope Lay?
A typical clutch will contain 4 eggs although the female can lay anywhere between 3 to 7 eggs.
Once the eggs are laid, the male takes on the incubation duties while the female stays local to protect the nest.
What Do Red-Necked Phalarope Eggs Look Like?
Red-Necked Phalaropes lay eggs that are olive or buff coloured which are speckled with dark brown, black or pale purple spots.
Each egg is around 30 x 21 mm in size and weighs around 6.3 grams with the shell making up 5% of that weight.
How Long Do Red-Necked Phalarope Eggs Take To Hatch?
Red-Necked Phalarope eggs are incubated solely by the male for a period of between 17 to 21 days before the chicks hatch. During this time, the female will typically leave the nest site and find another male to breed with.
If there are enough surplus males to females, she might mate with several males.
Chicks
Once the incubation period ends, we move onto the next stage in the life cycle of the Red-Necked Phalarope, the chicks.
How Many Chicks Does A Red-Necked Phalarope Have?
The number of chicks that hatch should correspond to the number of eggs laid. However, some eggs are infertile and some may get lost to predators.
On average there is around a 75% success rate which means 3 out of 4 eggs will produce a healthy chick.
When Do Red-Necked Phalarope Chicks Open Their Eyes?
Red-Necked Phalarope chicks are precocial which means they have their eyes open as soon as they hatch or shortly afterwards. They are also covered in downy feathers and are able to walk almost immediately.
This fairly advanced development is necessary for the survival of the chicks. As they are hatched in a simple scrape nest on the ground, they are susceptible to predators as soon as they hatch.
They typically leave the nest a few hours after hatching and start foraging for their own food. The male takes care of the young chicks for about 2 weeks after they hatch, leading them to feeding sites and protecting them from predators.
When Do Red-Necked Phalarope Chicks Fledge?
The already well developed chicks grow at an exceptionally fast rate and typically fledge at around 18 to 21 days after hatching. Soon after this, they start their first migratory journey.
They will cover thousands of miles to reach their wintering grounds and will often return to the same breeding grounds the following year to raise their own chicks.
SEE ALSO: Pectoral Sandpiper Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
The average lifespan of the Red-Necked Phalarope is around 5 years in the wild. However there have been exceptions to this with one individual surviving for nearly 13 years according to ring records.
Red-Necked Phalarope eggs are olive or buff coloured and are speckled with dark brown, black or pale purple spots. Each egg is around 30 x 21 mm in size and weighs around 6.3 grams.
In winter, red-necked phalaropes travel as far as the Pacific and spend their time offshore around the coasts of southern Mexico and as far round as the Galapagos Islands.
