Red-necked phalarope: Birds of Britain

Posted in Animals, Birds, Nature, Wildlife on Monday, 28 February 2011

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Semi-webbed feet make this little wader a buoyant swimmer, often spinning in circles on the water to stir up insects. Unlike most birds, the female is the dominant partner during the breeding season. She establishes the territory and displays to attract a mate, while the male incubates the eggs and tends the chicks in the nest until they are able to fly. They have suffered from egg-collectors, but nearly 50 pairs now breed in the Shetlands.

This edited article originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 909 published on 23 June 1979. We are able to license textual material. Please contact us for details.

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