Photo by Kelly Berry
This Red-necked Phalarope in breeding plumage was found a week ago on Terminal Island, CA walking around and, according to its rescuer, very easy to catch.
Upon an intake exam at our Los Angeles center, the bird was found to be thin with a small wound on its chest, and was only observed to have mild stumbling in its enclosure, rehabilitation technician Kelly Berry reports. We aged this patient as an after-hatch-year bird (sex undetermined).
The phalarope currently is in the waterproofing stage of rehabilitation and is receiving antibiotics for the chest wound.
By contrast, below is a photo of a Red-necked Phalarope in winter plumage (this animal was cared for at our San Francisco Bay center last year).
Photo by Cheryl Reynolds