What does the Red Phalarope eat?

The Red Phalarope's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Carnivore (primarily zooplankton, small crustaceans, and insects)

How it forages

Feeds by pecking at the surface of the water or by spinning rapidly in circles to create a vortex that draws small invertebrates to the surface. They also dabble and probe in shallow water. Diet consists mainly of zooplankton (copepods, amphipods), small crustaceans, and aquatic insects (larvae and adults).

When it feeds

Diurnal, though may feed at night during migration or in areas with continuous daylight during the Arctic summer.

Explore the Red Phalarope