|
|
|
Black-necked Grebe
(Podiceps nigricollis)
: Race "californicus": "Eared Grebe", "Eared Diver"
 German name(s): "Schwarzhalstaucher"
Size: 28-34 cm; wing span 56-60 cm
Weight: 250-480 g
|
|
 |
Similar
species |
|
|
 |
Physical description |
|
 Click here for a physical description
Black-necked Grebes are small grebes.
Both sexes have the same
plumage, but
breeding and
non-breeding
plumages are different.
The non-breeding plumage
is rather plain (and similar to that of other small grebes). There
are small gradations, with the chin and neck being the lightest shade,
but the entire plumage
is then plain-grey. The crown and back are darkest grey. In
eclipse
Black-necked Grebes do not have a visible crest.
During the breeding
season Black-necked Grebes have a black head and neck, with prominent
brown ear tufts. While
breeding, they
have a small black crest. Also the the back is black.
The sides are rufous-brown.
During a transition period the front, from the chin
downwards, may still be greyish.
During the breeding
season the irises are bright-red, while in
eclipse
they are orange-brown.
The pointy bill is dark-grey; while breeding it shows some brown at the
base.
|
 |
Taxonomy, classification |
|
See Black-necked
Grebe at Wikipedia  .
|
|
 |
Range, habitat, finding this species |
|
Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Black-necked Grebe is available
HERE
.
Black-necked Grebes are a highly migratory species.
There are three races, which altogether populate parts of
several continents.
Nominate race
"nigricollis"
has the most widespread distribution.
Apart from a few areas where they are found permanently in western
and south-western Europe, most Black-necked Grebes only spend the
winters in Europe, mainly along the French-Benelux Atlantic/North
Sea coastline and parts of the northern Mediterranean coastline,
in particular basically all of Greece and also all of Turkey.
There is also a permanent population in some small areas of eastern
Africa.
Another stronghold is to the South of the Caspian Sea, in Iraq
and Iran. These populations will breed in near-coastal northern
Germany and Poland and also along the major rivers of eastern
Europe, in particular the Danube, while most will breed in
mid-latitude eastern Europe from the Baltic states to the
North coast of the Black Sea eastwards into large parts of
central Asia.
A separate East-Asian population of race "nigricollis", which
breeds in southern China, spends the winters in the coastal regions
of Japan and further South-east, via Vietnam to the tropic of Cancer.
Race "californicus" breeds in inland North America, from south-western
Canada to the Mid-West of the US. They are permanent residents in some
of the south-western states and spend the winters anywhere around the
Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi to central American countries South
of the equator and also throughout Mexico and northward along the
North-American Pacific coastline, from the Baja California to British
Columbia. They are not found in the Rocky Mountains.
Race "gurneyi", which is sedentary, populates parts of subtropical
South Africa and the south-western African (near-)coastal fringe.
In Europe nominate race
"nigricollis"
is most reliably found in northern central and parts of eastern Europe.
During the
breeding
season Black-necked Grebes have a strong preference
for fresh water aquatic habitats, such as rivers and lakes, while
during the winters they are also found in maritime coastal waters.
|
 |
Sightings |
|
Click here for sighting information
Race "nigricollis"
D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Black-necked Grebe, nominate race
"nigricollis",
on the river Bug, in Brok, Masovia, Poland, in May 2016.
In January 2023, J. Pires found a Black-necked
Grebe, race
"nigricollis",
in the Sado estuary, Portugal.
|
 |
Photos |
|
Race "nigricollis"
 |
ADULT |
|
 |
BREEDING |
|
Lateral view of a Black-necked Grebe in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
Distant dorsal view of a Black-necked Grebe in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
 |
NON-BREEDING |
|
Lateral view of a Black-necked Grebe in non-breeding
plumage
looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Portugal, January 2023]
Lateral view of a Black-necked Grebe in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Portugal, January 2023]
Lateral view of a Black-necked Grebe in non-breeding
plumage
going for a dive
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Portugal, January 2023]
Near-dorsal view of a Black-necked Grebe in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Portugal, January 2023]
Dorsal view of a Black-necked Grebe in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Portugal, January 2023]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
