A Review of Sightings of Red-necked Phalaropes in Australia

Abstract

The Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus is a vagrant in Australia. It was not recorded until 1962 and since then there has been a total of 34 sightings of 89 individuals around Australia, but mainly in the south. Usually a single bird was seen but, in one case, 24 birds were seen in the same area. Almost all of the sightings were made between mid October and early April which is the period this species usually spends around the Celebes Sea. There has been an apparent increase in visits of this species over the last 25 years.