A medium grebe with rusty red neck in breeding plumage.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The red-necked grebe is an aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. A migratory bird, its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes. Grebes prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites.
Source: Wikipedia — Red-necked grebe Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Large, heavy-necked grebe with a long yellowish bill. Breeding birds have a rufous-red neck, black cap, and pale gray cheek; winter birds dusky-necked with a whitish cheek crescent.
Similar species. Western and Clark's grebes are slimmer with longer white necks; Horned Grebe is much smaller. The heavy yellow-based bill marks Red-necked.
Voice. Loud, braying, laughing whinnies on the breeding grounds; quiet in winter.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Fish, aquatic invertebrates caught by foot-propelled dives.
Behavior. A large grebe that breeds on northern lakes and winters on coastal waters; dives for fish and crustaceans and, unusually, swallows its own feathers.
§ Range
Northern North America
§ Habitat
Lakes, marshes
§ Threats
Habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the red-necked grebe is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support northern wetland conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Red-necked grebe
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Podiceps grisegena
- IUCN Red List — search for Podiceps grisegena
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Podiceps grisegena
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
