Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,756 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
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 Wilson's Phalarope: observations by month (U.S.)
About Wilson's Phalarope
The Wilson's phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) is a small wader. This bird, the largest of the phalaropes, breeds in the prairies of North America in western Canada and the western United States. It is migratory, wintering in inland salt lakes near the Andes in Argentina. They are passage migrants through Central America around March/April and again during September/October. The species is a rare vagrant to western Europe.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Wilson's Phalarope by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,337 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 1,614 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Oregon | 529 | May | May–Jun |
| Colorado | 510 | May | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 494 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Utah | 457 | July | May–Aug |
| Kansas | 292 | May | Apr–May |
| Montana | 271 | June | May–Jul |
| Idaho | 259 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 228 | May | Apr–May |
| Wyoming | 208 | May | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | 171 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 169 | May | May–May |
| Washington | 168 | May | May–Jun |
| South Dakota | 164 | May | May–May |
| North Dakota | 158 | May | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 151 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 142 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 141 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 130 | May | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 118 | May | May–May |
| New York | 109 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Nevada | 104 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Florida | 102 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Jersey | 87 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Missouri | 85 | May | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 73 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 69 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 52 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 50 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 40 | August | May–Sep |
| Mississippi | 30 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | May | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 29 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 27 | May | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 23 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 21 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 17 | May | May–Jun |
| Maine | 15 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Georgia | 14 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Virginia | 14 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Arkansas | 13 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 8 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Kentucky | 7 | May | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 7 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 6 | May | May–May |
| Rhode Island | 5 | August | 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 Wilson's Phalarope?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Wilson's Phalarope most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Oregon.