Flying Whale Groupies

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Flying Whale Groupies

Today’s special animal friend is the Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius. Red phalaropes are around 8 inches long with a wingspan of about 17 inches. Like the bar-tailed godwit, this seabird breeds during the summer in the coastal tundra of Alaska and northern Canada. Unlike the godwit, they do not migrate thousands of miles to enjoy summer Down Under. Instead, they spend most of their lives at sea. To facilitate their oceangoing phase, they dramatically change their plumage with the seasons. During the summer, they have a bright rust-red neck and underparts, with mottled black-and-buff wing feathers. The rest of the year, they are gray on the back with a white underside.

Here is a breeding pair:

And here’s one at sea:

Their winter range includes the eastern Atlantic off the coast of Africa and the eastern Pacific off the coast of California and Peru. They are a dabbling species, sitting on the surface of the water and picking up food without diving. A red phalarope will swim around in a small circle, creating a vortex that brings small food items such as insects, crustaceans, and larvae to the surface. (This video shows the very similar red-necked phalarope.)

Large groups of them will gather around whales, picking up the food stirred by the movement of the giant mammal.

Female red phalaropes are bigger than males. Females compete for nesting territories and pursue male partners, sometimes mating with more than one. Regardless of parentage, a male/female couple makes a ground nest concealed in vegetation. Once the female has laid the eggs, she begins her migration to the ocean. The male incubates the eggs for about 18 days and cares for the chicks for another two or three weeks, until they are able to feed themselves and fly.

The red phalarope is a species of Least Concern. They are protected by international treaties regarding migratory birds. They are vulnerable to oil spills and consumption of plastics.