About the Black-necked Grebe
The black-necked grebe or eared grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It was described in 1831 by Christian Ludwig Brehm. Its breeding plumage features distinctive ochre-coloured feathers which extend behind its eye and over its ear coverts. The rest of the upper parts, including the head, neck, and breast, are coloured black to blackish brown. The flanks are tawny rufous to maroon-chestnut, and the abdomen is white. In its non-breeding plumage, this bird has greyish-black upper parts, including the top of the head and a vertical stripe on the back of the neck. The flanks are also greyish-black. The rest of the body is a white or whitish colour. The juvenile has more brown…
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ID tip
The black-necked grebe usually measures between 28 and 34 centimetres (11 and 13 in) in length and has a wingspan range of 56–60 centimetres (22–24 in) in P. n. nigricollis, and 52–55 centimetres (20–22 in) in P. n. californicus. It weighs 215 to 450 grams (7.6 to 15.9 oz), with males being on average heavier than females. The nominate subspecies in breeding plumage has the head, neck, breast, and upper parts coloured black to blackish brown, with the exception of the ochre-coloured fan of feathers extending behind the eye over the eye-coverts and sides of the nape. Voice: When breeding, the black-necked grebe gives a quiet "ooeek" that ascends in pitch from an already high pitch. This call is also used as a territorial call, in addition to a low and fast trill, which itself is also used during courtship. Another call is a short "puuii" or "wit". This grebe is silent when it is not the breeding season and when it is feeding or resting.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Luxembourg, Lesotho, St. Pierre & Miquelon, North Korea, Guernsey.
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaThe red-necked grebe is a medium-large grebe, smaller than the great crested grebe of Eurasia, and the western and Clark's grebes of North America, but noticeably larger than other northern grebe species.
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusThe species can be recognised by its orange-red and black breeding plumage, its black and white non-breeding plumage, and its characteristic "horns".
Great GrebePodiceps majorThis is a very large grebe, with proportions more like a goose or a cormorant than a typical grebe.
Side by side: Black-necked Grebe vs Great Crested Grebe · Black-necked Grebe vs Horned Grebe · Black-necked Grebe vs Red-necked Grebe
Learn the Black-necked Grebe for real
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