Phalaropus tricolor

Utah hosts 70 percent of the world population of the Wilson's phalarope, in the spring and summer breeding and nesting seasons. The staggering number of phalaropes is one of the reasons that the Great Salt Lake is designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the National Audubon Society.

Drive along the Antelope Island Causeway or travel to any wetland marsh in northern Utah, and you will likely see this beautiful, interesting bird.

The phalarope spins in circles on the water while foraging for brine shrimp and plankton. The whirling motion creates a vortex that brings the food up to the surface, where the phalarope picks off the morsels.

There is some role reversal with Wilson's phalaropes. The female courts the male, and it is the female that dons the bright breeding plumage. Normally, the male develops the breeding plumage and establishes a breeding territory. Males develop an incubation pouch after breeding takes place.

Phalarope eggs are incubated by the male. They are precocial, born with feathers, open eyes and the ability to walk off the nest immediately. This reduces the risk of predation from raccoons, skunks, badgers, fox and other ground predators.

Protection of marshlands is essential to providing this bird with its critical habitat component. Wilson's phalaropes are 8 to 9 inches long with a wingspan of 14 to 16 inches. They weigh 2.4 ounces.

The male has brownish black upperparts, white underparts and a white chin and cheeks. Females have a broad black stripe down the neck bordered by a reddish chestnut. There is a partial necklace of an orange wash on the pale gray neck. Her wings are gray.

---

* BILL FENIMORE is owner of the Layton Wild Bird Center, www.wildbird.com/layton.