Podiceps grisegena
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Mass
~1 kg
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The red-necked grebe has a low-key, rather shy presence. In summer it shows a dark cap, pale cheeks, and a rusty neck, while in winter it turns much duller and blends easily into water and reedbeds.
It is an agile swimmer and diver. When alarmed, it slips under at once, moves awkwardly on land, and in the breeding season becomes much noisier, with loud, wavering calls and trills.
For nesting, it chooses small fresh-water sites with dense emergent plants and shaded edges. It feeds mostly on aquatic invertebrates and fish, and in winter shifts to the sea, especially bays, estuaries, and shallow coastal waters.
Quick Facts
The red-necked grebe has a low-key, rather shy presence. In summer it shows a dark cap, pale cheeks, and a rusty neck, while in winter it turns much duller and blends easily into water and reedbeds.
It is an agile swimmer and diver. When alarmed, it slips under at once, moves awkwardly on land, and in the breeding season becomes much noisier, with loud, wavering calls and trills.
For nesting, it chooses small fresh-water sites with dense emergent plants and shaded edges. It feeds mostly on aquatic invertebrates and fish, and in winter shifts to the sea, especially bays, estuaries, and shallow coastal waters.
