Al Jaramillo wrote:

> What gives with Red Phalaropes? I don't really understand why they are
>around here in December, why are they not gone by now? The late migration of
>first winter Red Phalaropes is puzzling to me. Why do they hang back so
>long, when it does seem that few actually winter in North America. Could
>there be an undiscovered moulting area somewhere where the juveniles moult
>into first winter plumage before moving on? In Chile, wintering Red
>Phalaropes are already common in September so it is obvious that some birds
>(likely the adults on timing) head down early, or perhaps the Chilean
>wintering birds are actually Siberian breeders. As well, does anyone know if
>first summer Red Phalaropes stay in the winter quarters during the first
>Boreal summer? The differences in timing of migration between Reds and
>Red-necks implies that they have different foraging needs while at sea, or
>some other ecological difference while they are out there. Any suggestions?

There are records of big wrecks of Red Phalaropes in January, if you can
believe the comments in that book on northwest shorebirds, so I would say
wintering is indicated, at least in some years, rather than just "late
migration." There could probably be a lot more Red Phalaropes than we
think off the Cascadian coast in winter; little birds on a big ocean,
almost undetectable unless a flock takes flight. I think indeed all the
late birds are immatures, but I doubt if there is some particular staging
area where they arrest their migration to molt (sorry Al, moult), as it is
obvious that immatures in southbound migration late in the season (i.e.,
October) are in full body molt.

There seems to be almost nothing known about first-year sea phalaropes,
except that (probably) most return to the breeding grounds at one year of
age.

Adult sea phalaropes migrate and molt very early, and we see them in
virtually full "winter" (basic) plumage on the coast of WA in July (this is
why the terms "summer" and "winter" plumage seem especially inappropriate
for shorebirds). They probably wait until they get to their wintering
grounds before they molt their wing and tail feathers, but the body
feathers are clearly intended to be gray (cryptic at sea?) as soon as they
leave their breeding grounds.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416