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How do phalaropes stir up prey while swimming?

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Illustration of a crab plover (Dromas ardeola), showing a slender wading bird with long legs, a long pointed black bill, white head and underparts, and contrasting black wings and back. — Charadriiform Crab plover (Dromas ardeola)

Phalaropes (family Phalaropodidae) habitually feed while swimming and often stir up prey by spinning around in the water. This spinning behavior is observed in both adults and chicks, the latter of which are aquatic and begin performing the action within an hour of hatching.12