Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,958 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Red-necked Phalarope: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red-necked Phalarope
The red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is migratory, and, unusually for a wader, winters at sea on tropical oceans.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red-necked Phalarope by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,237 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Alaska | 806 | June | May–Aug |
| Oregon | 602 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 336 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Washington | 247 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Arizona | 147 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Ohio | 135 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Texas | 132 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Colorado | 129 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 69 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Nevada | 68 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Idaho | 66 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maryland | 64 | May | May–May |
| Florida | 63 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New York | 61 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Minnesota | 57 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Montana | 57 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 51 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 43 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 42 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 38 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 36 | May | May–May |
| New Mexico | 35 | September | Sep–Sep |
| North Dakota | 35 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 34 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 31 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 30 | June | May–Sep |
| Nebraska | 30 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 28 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 26 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Kansas | 24 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Wyoming | 23 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 22 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 22 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 22 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Iowa | 14 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 14 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 10 | May | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 9 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Mississippi | 9 | September | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 9 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 8 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 7 | September | Sep–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 6 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Georgia | 6 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 6 | May | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 5 | September | Aug–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Sandpipers and Allies)
Willet
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Marbled Godwit
Long-billed Curlew
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Red-necked Phalarope?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from August to September.
Where is Red-necked Phalarope most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Alaska, Oregon.