Grey Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicarius (Linnaeus, 1758) PL GREPH 5650
Family: Charadriiformes > Stercorariidae

The Grey (or Red) Phalarope is a small, Arctic breeding wader that has very different plumages in summer and winter.

Records of this small Arctic visitor peak in late autumn (from mid-September through December). Normally, it occurs offshore but storm-driven individuals can also be found on large inland waterbodies, where they can be surprisingly approachable.

Phalaropes swim with a distinctive spinning motion, creating small vortices of water that are thought to bring small invertebrates to the surface where they can pick them off the surface with their short delicate bill.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Grey Phalarope

• Breeding
• Winter

SEASONALITY

4

EGGS

15k records

BTO RECORDS

197.5% Expansion

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

SEASONALITY

15k records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

Grey Phalarope identification is sometimes difficult.

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA

POPULATION SIZE

BOU Category	A
First Record	Yorkshire, 1757

DISTRIBUTION

The winter range map for Grey Phalaropes shows records mainly along the North Sea from the Firth of Forth southwards, and along the south coast of England, and north to the southern Irish Sea, plus a scattering of inland records in south and central England. Most of these records come form November when birds are still migrating.

• 

• 

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

No. occupied in winter	180
% occupied in winter	6

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

+197.5%

SEASONALITY

Grey Phalaropes are most often encountered during autumn storms, particularly in September and October, but winter records are also possible.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Grey Phalarope, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Number of Broods	1
Egg Size	31×22 mm    Weight = 7.5 g (of which 5% is shell)

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

Ring size	B2
Field Codes	2-letter: PL | 5-letter code: GREPH | Euring: 5650

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Gaelic: Liathag-allt

Welsh: Llydandroed Llwyd

Catalan: escuraflascons becgròs

Czech: lyskonoh ploskozobý

Danish: Thorshane

Dutch: Rosse Franjepoot

Estonian: puna-veetallaja

Finnish: isovesipääsky

French: Phalarope à bec large

German: Thorshühnchen

Hungarian: laposcsoru víztaposó

Icelandic: Þórshani

Irish: Falaróp Gobmhór

Italian: Falaropo beccolargo

Latvian: platknabja puslitis

Lithuanian: plokšciasnapis plaukikas

Norwegian: Polarsvømmesnipe

Polish: platkonóg plaskodzioby

Portuguese: falaropo-de-bico-grosso

Slovak: lyskonoh ploskozobý

Slovenian: ploskokljuni liskonožec

Spanish: Falaropo picogrueso

Swedish: brednäbbad simsnäppa