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Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

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The Black-necked Grebe is a small grebe with a black head and neck in the breeding season, set off by fan-shaped golden plumes behind bright red eyes; in winter it is grey and white. It occurs in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas and is probably the most numerous grebe in the world. It breeds in colonies on shallow, vegetated lakes, often among Black-headed Gulls.

Did you know?

  • Although it seldom flies, it can migrate up to 6,000 km.
  • On moulting lakes it becomes flightless and can double its weight.

About the species

Identification

A small grebe with a steep forehead and a thin, slightly upturned bill. In breeding plumage the head, neck and back are black, the flanks rufous, and fan-shaped golden plumes spread behind the red eye. In winter it is dark grey and white with a dusky neck, and the black cap extends below the eye, making the face darker than a Horned Grebe's.

Family

Podicipedidae

Size

Large (crow)

Colours

black, brown, yellow, red, white

About the habitat

Breeds on shallow, nutrient-rich lakes and ponds with emergent vegetation; moults and winters on saline lakes, coastal lagoons and sheltered coasts.

Diet

Mainly insects and their larvae taken from the surface or in flight, as well as crustaceans, molluscs, tadpoles and small fish; at salt lakes where it moults it feeds largely on brine shrimps.

Behaviour

It builds a floating nest on open water, often in colonies, laying three to four eggs; incubation lasts about three weeks, and the parents later split the brood. Although it rarely flies, it can migrate up to 6,000 km at night, and on moulting lakes it becomes flightless for at least a month, doubling its weight.

Sources

Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black-necked Grebe Schwarzhalstaucher.jpg

Text: Wikipedia (English), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-necked_grebe

See also