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Red-necked Grebe
last update: Mar 24, 2009 03:45 PM
Latin name: Podiceps grisegena
Population: 150,000-370,000
Cites classified: Least Concern
Where found: East-central Europe and Central Canada
Age/ life expectancy: unknown
Wingspan: 75-85 cm
Length: 24-30 cm
Weight: 700-900 g
Mating/Breeding: Red-necked Grebes usually nest as isolated pairs with more than 50 m between neighbouring nests, although semi-colonial nesting may occur in suitable sites, where up to 20 pairs each defend a linear territory. Semi-colonial breeding is more likely to occur in prime locations, such as large floating mats of vegetation with no connection to the shoreline. Such sites, safe from most predators and large enough to provide some wind and wave protection, have grebes nesting much closer than shoreline breeders, down to 10 m. Pairs nesting in these colonies produce larger clutches of eggs, which hatch earlier in the season and result in larger broods. The nest is a floating platform of plant matter anchored to submerged or emergent vegetation, in water 0.5–0.75 m deep, and with the bulk of nest below the water line. Egg-laying mainly takes place from mid-April to May in Europe, and somewhat later, from mid-May to June, in North America. The Red-necked Grebe lays four or five eggs. Parents take turns to incubate the eggs for 21–33 days until the precocial downy chicks hatch; they immediately climb onto the parent's back, where they spend most of their time until they are 10–17 days old. The young may be fed by the parents for up to 54 days after fledging, and can fly at 50–70 days. The parents do not interfere with the feeding of their chicks when they are still being carried.
Eggs: 4-5 white eggs that are often stained
Hibernation: along North and Baltic Seas in Europe and along the Pacific coast in North America
Aggressive: Pairs defend their territories with various threat displays, including spreading of wings, hunching, raising heads, or thrusting bills forward.
Hunting Habits: diving or surface swimming
Feed on: invertebrate aquatic insects, small fish, and crustaceans
Predators: raccoon and carrion crow prey on eggs and chicks while birds of prey prey on adults
Colour/Body: In breeding plumage, it has a black cap that extends below the eye, very pale grey cheeks and throat, a rusty red neck, dark grey back and flanks, and white underparts. The eyes are dark brown and the long, pointed bill is black with a yellow base. The winter plumage of the Red-necked Grebe is duskier than that of other grebes; its dark grey cap is less defined, and merges into the grey face, and a pale crescent that curves around the rear of the face contrasts with the rest of the head. The front of the neck is whitish or light grey, the hind neck is darker grey, and the yellow of the bill is less obvious than in summer.
Interesting Trivia:
- The Red-necked Grebe migrates over land strictly at night. It sometimes migrates over water or along coasts by day, in large flocks.
- Like other grebes, the Red-necked Grebe ingests large quantities of its own feathers. Feathers remain in the bird's stomach. The function of feathers in the stomach is unknown.
