'Liberated ladettes' of bird world turn tide on extinction

Red-necked phalaropes disappeared from the Scottish mainland in the early 1980s and can now only be found in the Western Isles and Shetland.

The migrants are so rare they are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of endangered species.

Numbers dropped to an all-time low in 2008 of just 17 breeding pairs in Scotland, but last year they showed the first signs of recovery and rose to 26 pairs.

The birds swap gender roles, with the females displaying bright colours in the competition to find a mate.

While the females hunt for mates, the smaller, duller-coloured males stay on the nest guarding eggs.

RSPB Scotland has been trying to find ways to boost numbers, particularly by creating more of the shallow pools favoured by the little waders.

Malcolm Smith, RSPB Scotland North Isles Officer, said he was delighted by the rise in pairs, but added: "Unfortunately numbers are still below our targets and there is no guarantee we will be able to repeat this success next year."

As well as being larger and more brightly coloured than the males, the females compete for nesting territory and will aggressively defend their nests and mates. Once they have laid their eggs, they will abandon the male to look after the brood, while they search for another mate. Sometimes they spend just two days with each male.

James Reynolds, spokesman for RSPB Scotland, said they were "fascinating little birds".

"The really interesting thing is how their sexual behaviour completely goes against traditional gender stereotypes, with the females behaving like the equivalent of the modern-day, liberated 'laddette'.

"It is a more extreme, avian version of the sexual revolution that we saw in the 1960s."

It is unknown why they have suffered such serious declines. However, predation by foxes and hedgehogs, theft of their eggs by collectors, lack of suitable habitat and climate change are thought to have played a part.

Red-necked phalaropes are more commonly found in Arctic areas and much of Scotland may now be too warm for them.