Red Phalerope

red phaleropes, 8"x10" scratchboard and ink

Phaleropes are shorebirds, related to sandpipers. They eat insects and small crustaceans from shallow waters. About 6-8" long, they spend their summers in the Arctic and migrate to the tip of South America or Africa for winter. In the drawing above, the individual on the left is actually the female. The females have bolder colors, defend territory, and seek out mates. She lays three to six eggs, which the male incubates while she starts her migration.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_phalarope