Podiceps grisegena
The Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena, is a striking medium-sized diving bird, recognized by its distinctive rufous-red neck, a contrasting black cap, and crisp white cheek patches during its breeding season. Measuring approximately 40-50 cm (16-20 inches) in length with a wingspan of 60-85 cm (24-33 inches) and weighing 700-1600 grams (1.5-3.5 lbs), it is noticeably larger than most other grebes but smaller than a loon. Its prominent, stout bill, typically yellow at the base and dark at t...
Red-necked Grebes primarily inhabit freshwater lakes, large ponds, and marshes with emergent vegetation during the breeding season. In winter, they shift to coastal marine environments, estuaries, and large, ice-free inland lakes, typically favoring low-lying areas.
The Red-necked Grebe's diet consists mainly of small to medium-sized fish, supplemented with a variety of aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, and amphibians. They are primarily underwater pursuit divers, actively hunting their prey.
Red-necked Grebes are highly aquatic and generally diurnal, spending most of their time diving for food or performing intricate courtship displays. Their foraging strategy primarily involves pursuit-diving underwater, propelled by their powerful lobed feet, allowing them to capture fish and aquat...
The Red-necked Grebe boasts a broad Holarctic distribution, breeding across northern North America and Eurasia. In North America, its breeding range extends from Alaska, throughout much of Canada, and into the northern United States, particularly in the prairie potholes and Great Lakes regions. T...
Least Concern
- Red-necked Grebes are one of the few bird species known to deliberately eat their own feathers, an enigmatic behavior believed to aid digestion by compacting indigestible fish bones or protecting their stomachs. - Their legs are positioned far back on their bodies, making them incredibly effici...