Red Phalarope

Red Phalaropes are small wading water birds that can swim at the surface of the water with their lobed toes, which have extended side flaps for swimming. Two of them, the Red and the Red-necked Phalarope, spend the inter-breeding period at sea, only coming to land for breeding. The two species look very similar in winter plumage. That will be discussed later. Phalaropes have another unique feature among wading birds, which is reversed sexual dimorphism, with females being bigger and more brightly-colored than males.
The adult Red Phalarope is easily recognizable with its light brown color that covers its underside and neck. The female is brighter and more vivid in color. Its head is black and white, black on top, face and nape, white on the sides with a dark eye that stands out well. Its bills, particularly tall and wide, shorter than the head, is yellow with a black tip. The upper parts are black with tectrices edged white or fawn giving it a striated look. The wings are gray with a clear white wing bar, visible only when the wings are open. The underside of the wing and axillaries are white. Its tail is black. The male has a variable plumage. Some are close to the female, just with less vivid colors, while others are far from it, yet still recognizable (see the photos in the gallery).
The winter plumage is very different, as is usual with wading birds. It is gray and white, with some black. The upper parts, body and wing covers, are a rather pale gray. When newly molted, one can see the paler edges of the tectrices that disappear with wear, giving a uniform look.The underparts are all white. Remiges and rectrices are slate grey. The head is white with the nape, an oblique band behind the eye and a patch before the eye, black. The beak is black. From afar, the bird perched on the water looks like a miniature gull. In flight, the pale plumage and white wing bars resemble a winter Sanderling but the latter has a completely white head and a pale tail with central rectrices black.
The first winter plumage is quite similar to the previous one, but with some small differences that bring it closer to the winter slender one. You can list 3: 1- the black advances more forward on the head, 2- the sides of the head and the front of the neck are slightly tinged with russet cream, at least in early winter, 3- the top is not uniform grey like the adult one, there are blackish spots at the front and on the sides of the mantle. Some juvenile feathers may remain during fall migration.
The winter slender Red Phalarope is quite similar and can be a source of confusion. It's a bit smaller and slimmer. Its black beak, of headlength, is much thinner, a bit needle-like, and not widened. The tectrices of the mantle and scapulae are of a darker grey and their pale edges are wider and more noticeable, which gives the upper plumage a striated appearance. The beak remains the best criterion at a reasonable distance.
Be careful of transition plumages which can be complex to analyze.