Abstract

A literature review of the spinning behaviour of all three phalarope Phalaropus species is supplemented by additional, previously unpublished observations. Spinning as a means to acquire food is apparently relatively unusual, and almost certainly occurs when the food is available at depths greater than the bird can reach directly, yet almost always in shallow water. Phalaropes may spin in either direction, though clockwise spinning is most usual; some birds may change spinning direction from time to time.