PHALAROPUS.
Toes half webbed, lobed as in Grebes. Aquatic, frequent sea-coasts and occasionally inland waters; good swimmers; nest on ground; eggs 4. larger than 6 and latter incubates.
Phalaropus fulicarius (L.). GREY PHALAROPE. Fr. Phalarope gris ; Ger. Plattschnabliger Wassertreter ; Ital. Falaropo rosso ; Swed. Brednabbad Simsnappa.
? summer. Crown black ; upper parts black with buff margins ; wing coverts grey, greater tipped white ; upper tail coverts chestnut, streaked brown ; beneath vinous chestnut, sides of head white, chin slaty. Bill strong and broad, dark yellow, tipped dark brown. Legs and feet pale bluish green, lobes mostly and inside of tarsus partly yellow. Wing 128-142. Tarsus 21-24. Bill 20-22. 8 duller, sides of head red brown, crown streaked rufous. Wing 126-135. j winter : upper parts blue grey, nape, hind neck and some feathers upper parts black ; beneath white.
Breeds.—Circumpolar ; Iceland, Spitzbergen, Nova Zembla, and possibly Kolguev, and in N. Asia and Arctic America to Greenland. Migrates ; occurs on passage and in winter in Europe, seen chiefly on coasts or at sea as far as Liberia in Eastern Atlantic ; frequent E. Asia, rare India ; also found W.
Atlantic and Pacific Coasts.
The Spitzbergen breeding bird has been separated as "P. f. jourdaini," on account of paler and narrower margins to feathers of upper parts in summer ; further confirmation appears necessary.
Phalaropus lobatus (L.). RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Fr. Phalarope cendre ; Ger. Schmalschnabliger Wassertreter ; Sued. Smalnabbad Simsnappa.
? summer. Upper parts and sides of breast blue slate, streaked rufous on back ; collar chestnut ; underparts white. Bill slender and narrow, black. Legs and feet grey blue. Wing 114-119. Tarsus 22-24. Bill 21-23. Crown and upper parts dark brown streaked chestnut. Wing 1o5-115. Tarsus 19-21.
? winter : above grey with white tips, forehead and underparts white.
Preeds. Ireland (very rare), Scottish Islands, Iceland, Fames, Scandinavia, Russia south to I'erm ; also N. Asia and N. America. Occurs on passage throughout Europe. Winters in Mediterranean Countries, S. Asia and C. and S. America ; more often found inland than Grey Phalarope.