RED-NECKED GREBE Podiceps grisegena

RED-NECKED GREBE Podiceps grisegena

L 40–50 cm, WS 77–85 cm.

IDENTIFICATION 

Large, thickset grebe, with typically (but not always) rather deeply wedge-shaped head, stout neck and relatively long, stout bill. At long range gives front-heavy impression. Often encountered singly: less sociable than Great Crested. On breeding waters tends to be more cover-loving than other grebes; often lurks just inside cover of emergent vegetation. Adult summer distinguished by pale grey face and throat, outlined in white (looks all whitish at a distance), combined with reddish-brown foreneck and breast, and blackish bill with yellow base. 

Adult winter quite similar to Great Crested, but distinguished by stockier body shape, drabber, duskier overall coloration with dark crown extending to eye level (with dusky area below eye and on cheeks), shorter neck with dusky-grey sides, and shorter, stouter blackish bill with yellow base. Overall plumage  pattern not dissimilar to Black-necked, but Red-necked larger and more thickset, with two-toned bill pattern and  typically a more wedge-shaped head (although can often look quite rounded). In flight, shows two white
patches on upperwing, but forewing patch much less extensive than in Great Crested, and looks less elegant
overall with shorter and darker neck. 

SEX/AGE 

Juvenile very similar to adult winter, but has dark stripes on face, reddish foreneck and less contrasting bill pattern (with yellowish extending further towardstip). From first winter resembles adult winter, although darkest, drabbest birds are probably 1st-winter.

VOICE 

Quite varied repertoire, mainly on breeding grounds, including a loud, repeated, diver-like, wailing howl, ‘uoooh, uoooh, uoooh’, frequently ending in a harsh, braying or squealing ‘whaa-whaa-whaa-whaachiterrrrrrrr’ reminiscent of Water Rail. Also a harsh ‘cherk’. Often calls from cover and pairs often duet.

STATUS/HABITAT 

Not uncommon but rather localized. (In addition to mapped range, has bred Netherlands, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Greece.) In breeding season, freshwater lakes and sometimes very slowmoving rivers with much emergent vegetation. At other times, more open lakes, estuaries and fairly sheltered coastal waters.