The red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) is unusual in that females are more brightly coloured than males and take the dominant role in courtship. UK breeders number fewer than 50 pairs.
With such a tiny UK breeding population, each individual's welfare is significant for species persistence. Breeding welfare depends on clean, shallow freshwater pools with abundant aquatic invertebrates in close proximity. Wetland drainage, peat extraction, and agricultural improvement of Shetland machair habitat directly threatens nesting success. Climate change is altering aquatic invertebrate timing, potentially disrupting chick feeding. RSPB Fetlar and other managed reserves provide the most important welfare buffer for this species.