Bird Guide

Red Phalarope vs Upland Sandpiper

Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Red Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicarius

Small56 gMarine

The red phalarope is about 21 cm (8.3 in) in length, with lobed toes and a straight bill, somewhat thicker than that of red-necked phalarope. The breeding female is predominantly dark brown and black above, with red underparts and white cheek patches. The bill is yellow, tipped black. The breeding male is a duller version of the female. Young birds are light grey and brown above, with buff underparts and a dark patch through the eye. In winter, the plumage is essentially grey above and white below, but the black eyepatch is always present. The bill is black in winter.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Mike Baird from Morro Bay, USA · CC BY 2.0
Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Medium159 gGrassland

An adult is roughly 30 cm (12 in) long with a 66 cm (26 in) wingspan. The average weight is 170 g (6 oz). This odd bird has a small dove-like head on a long neck. It is heavily marbled black and brown on the back and wings. The neck is streaked with dark brown which continues down to the breast and on to the flanks. The belly and undertail coverts are white, and the tail is quite long for a sandpiper. The upland sandpiper also has a white eye-ring and long yellow legs. Voice: Upland sandpipers can be identified by a distinctive call, sometimes called a "wolf whistle", which features a long, ascending whistle followed by a second rising and/or falling call. These sounds are often made while the bird is landing or while flying high.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Jonathon Jongsma · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie · Public domain

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Red Phalarope and Upland Sandpiper.