This is the largest of the three species of phalaropes. It breeds in Western North America and migrates to the central Andes Mountains in South America. This is a young bird still mostly in juvenal plumage. There is a freshly grown row of Basic I (winter plumage) feathers on the upper scapulars. The toes have flaps of skin, visible here, extending laterally to allow swimming.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LX5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter).