Common name: Red-necked Phalarope
Scientific name: Phalaropus lobatus
Family: Phalaropodidae

Size:
Body length: 18–19 cm
Wingspan: 31–34 cm
Weight: 30–50 g

Identification:
A small, delicate wader with a fine bill and compact body. In breeding plumage, it shows a dark head with a distinctive reddish neck and grey upperparts, while the underparts are white. In non-breeding plumage, it appears mostly grey and white with a pale face and a subtle dark eye patch. The bill is thin and straight.

Habitat:
Open seas, coastal waters, lagoons, and shallow wetlands during migration.

Status in the UAE:
Passage migrant, mainly offshore. Occasionally recorded along coasts and in coastal waters.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on small aquatic invertebrates, plankton, and insects.

Behavior:
Notable for its unique feeding behavior, often spinning rapidly on the water surface to create small vortices that bring prey upward. Unlike most waders, it swims frequently and comfortably on open water. Often seen singly or in small groups during migration.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)