Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe, with chicks at nest

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Red-necked Grebe, Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage, NY, November.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

The Red-necked Grebe breeds on small inland lakes in Canada and Alaska, and winters along both coasts of North America. Boldly marked, vocal, and aggressive during the breeding season, it is quiet and subtly attired in winter.

Description

• Medium-sized waterbird; large grebe.
• Bill is large, straight, and sharp.
• Breeding adult has a rufous neck, pale gray or white cheeks, and a black cap.
• Nonbreeding adult has gray neck and cheeks.

• Size: 43-56 cm (17-22 in)
• Wingspan: 61-88 cm (24-35 in)
• Weight: 800-1600 g (28.24-56.48 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar; male slightly larger.

Sound

During the breeding season, most common vocalization is a long series of whinnies, chitters, honks, and brays. Also issues rattles, hisses, and purrs. Alarm call is a sharp tick.

Conservation Status

No clear trend in population numbers. Susceptible to contaminants, such as organochlorines and heavy metals, that accumulate in tissues of prey species. Habitat loss for agriculture, roads, and development is also a threat. Listed as Threatened in Wisconsin. Otherwise no official status.

Other Names

Grèbe jougris (French)
Holboell's Grebe, Gray-cheeked Grebe (English)

Cool Facts

• 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. One hypothesis suggests that the feathers help protect the lower digestive tract from bones and other hard, indigestible material.
• The Red-necked Grebe also feeds its feathers to its young.

• The Red-necked Grebe migrates over land strictly at night. It sometimes migrates over water or along coasts by day, in large flocks.

Sources used to construct this page:

Stout, B. E., and G. L. Nuechterlein. 1999. Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena). In The Birds of North America, No. 465 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.