Red-Necked Phalarope Spotted in Tamil Nadu, India

The recent sighting of the Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) at Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu has created a buzz among ornithologists and wildlife enthusiasts. Known for its distinctive circular swimming pattern and vibrant breeding plumage, this Arctic-breeding shorebird is a rare visitor to India, making this observation ecologically significant.

About the Red-Necked Phalarope

Taxonomy and Distribution

• Scientific Name: Phalaropus lobatus
• Family: Scolopacidae (sandpiper family)

Distribution

• Breeding zones: Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra (60°–70° latitude)
• Wintering zones: Open oceans, including the Arabian Sea, coastal South America, Indonesia, and western Melanesia

Appearance and Behaviour

• Size: Small-sized shorebird
• Coloration (Breeding plumage)
• Chestnut-red coloring on the neck and sides
• Slim, straight black bill
• White face and underparts

Feeding Habit

• Feeds on tiny aquatic invertebrates and plankton
• Famous for spinning rapidly on water to stir up food from beneath the surface

Unique Breeding Traits

• Mating System: Polyandrous (females mate with multiple males)
• Parental Care: Males incubate eggs and care for the chicks
• This role reversal is rare in birds and adds to the species’ ecological intrigue.

Why the Sighting is Significant

The Nanjarayan Tank in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, is a freshwater wetland that has become a hotspot for migratory birds.

The Red-necked Phalarope’s presence here,

• Suggests favorable ecological conditions in Indian wetlands
• Highlights the migratory range extension and adaptability of the species
• Emphasizes the need for conservation of wetlands in South India

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• Although globally stable, habitat degradation and climate change could impact long-distance migratory birds like the Red-necked Phalarope.

Takeaways

• First recorded sighting at Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu.
• Spins on water to catch prey—an uncommon feeding strategy.
• Female phalaropes are polyandrous; males raise the chicks.
• Winters at sea, unlike most shorebirds that remain on coastlines.
• Highlights the importance of Indian wetlands for global migratory biodiversity.