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Difference between revisions of "Black-necked Grebe" - BirdForum Opus

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;Podiceps nigricollis
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'''Alternative name: Eared Grebe'''
;Also known as EARED GREBE in the USA.
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[[Image:Black-necked_Grebe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|''P. n. nigricollis'' in breeding plumage<br />Photo by {{user|martinuk|martinuk}}<br />Chmielek, [[Poland]], May 2002]]
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;[[:Category:Podiceps|Podiceps]] nigricollis
 +
==Identification==
 +
A medium-small grebe, length 28-34cm (11-13¼ in), wingspan 41-57cm (22½ in), weight 265-450 g.<br />
 +
'''Adult Breeding'''
 +
*Blackish above; browner towards rump
 +
*Black breast, head and neck
 +
*Flanks mottled rufous and black
 +
*Slight crest, peaking at top of head (not rear)
 +
*Tuft of golden-yellow extends from eye and droops down over ear coverts
 +
*Red iris
 +
*Black bill
 +
*Blackish-grey legs<br />
 +
[[Image:Black-necked Grebe, winter plumage.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''P. n. nigricollis'' in winter plumage<br />Photo by {{user|Stuart+Read|Stuart Read}}<br />Alton Water, [[Suffolk]], [[UK]]; 15 January 2016]]
 +
'''Adult Non-breeding'''
 +
*Dull grey-brown and white
 +
*Appears black and white from a distance
 +
*Dark crown extends well below eye level and merges with grey ear coverts<br />
 +
'''Juvenile''': Resemble non-breeding adult, but browner with cheeks tinged buff
 +
 
 +
'''Flight''': Upperwing shows broad white trailing edge to secondaries but lacks white of forewing base seen in Slavonian.
 +
 
 +
At all seasons slightly upturned bill distinguishes from Slavonian and in non-breeding plumage the more diffuse border between dark and light on head is useful.
 +
[[Image:Eared grebe.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''P. n. californicus'' in breeding plumage<br />Photo by {{user|macshark|macshark}}<br /> Shoreline Lake, northern [[California]], April 2009]]
 +
 
 +
Dark of crown extends to well below level of eye and merges with grey ear-coverts thus less clearly demarcated compared to Slavonian.
 +
====Similar Species====
 +
*[[Colombian Grebe]]: this now-extinct [sub]species was very similar, differing only in orangey fore-neck.
 +
*[[Slavonian Grebe]]: larger, with stouter bill not upturned at tip; crest peaks at rear of head; orange neck in summer, more contrastingly black-and-white in winter with white cheeks.
 +
*[[Little Grebe]]: smaller, and much browner-toned in winter plumage when most likely to be confused.
 +
*[[Silvery Grebe]] and [[Junin Grebe]] are both structurally very similar to Black-necked Grebe, most resembling Black-necked's winter plumage, but do not overlap in range.
 +
 
 +
==Distribution==
 +
Widespread in the both the Old and New Worlds but with a more southerly range than that of Slavonian Grebe. Migratory in northern parts of range.
 +
 
 +
*[[Europe]]: Discontinuous breeding range but small populations present in many central and eastern [[Europe]]an countries. Largely absent from the north and west but there are small populations in [[Britain]], central and eastern [[France]], [[Belgium]] and central and southern [[Spain]]. Main range extends from [[Denmark]] and eastern [[Germany]] eastwards to the southern Urals and Caspian. Patchy range in the south-east with scattered populations in the [[Balkans]] and [[Turkey]]. The main wintering range in Europe lies from southern [[Britain]] and the [[Netherlands]] south to Biscay and around much of the [[Mediterranean]] and [[Turkey]]. In recent decades has begun to winter regularly in the [[Canary Islands]].
 +
 
 +
*[[Asia]]: Range extends east to central Asia and also breeds in eastern [[China]] and the [[Russia]]n far east, wintering east to [[Japan]] and south to southern China.
  
[[Image:Black-necked_Grebe.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by martinuk]]
+
*[[Africa]]: Range very patchy in the east and south of Africa, with localised breeding in [[Ethiopia]] and [[Kenya]], [[Angola]], [[Namibia]] and [[South Africa]]. African populations are non-migratory.
==Identification==
 
A medium-sized grebe, distinctive when breeding but needs to be distinguished from Slavonian Grebe in winter. Adult breeding: blackish above shading to browner towards the rump, breast black, flanks mottled rufous and black. Head and neck black, slight crest on rearcrown. Tuft of golden-yellow begins from eye and droops down over ear-coverts. Iris red, bill black, legs blackish-grey. Adult non-breeding: dull grey-brown and white but looks black and white from any distance. Dark of crown extends to well below level of eye and merges with grey ear-coverts thus less clearly demarcated compared to Slavonian. Juvenile: resembles non-breeding adult but browner with cheeks tinged buff. Flight: upperwing shows broad white trailing edge to secondaries but lacks white of forewing base seen in Slavonian. At all seasons slightly upturned bill distinguishes from Slavonian and in non-breeding plumage the more diffuse border between dark and light on head is useful.  
 
  
Length 28-34cm. Wingspan 57cm.
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*[[North America]]: Breeds from southern [[British Columbia]] east to southern [[Manitoba]] and south to [[Baja California]] and southern [[Texas]]. Winters in the Americas on the Pacific coast from [[British Columbia]] to [[California]], across the southern [[USA]] from [[California]] to western [[Florida]], and also south through [[Mexico]] to [[Guatemala]].  
  
==Range==
+
*Vagrants recorded in [[Norway]] and [[Finland]], and south to the [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]].
Widespread in the both the Old and New Worlds but with a more southerly range than that of Slavonian Grebe P. auritus. Migratory in northern parts of range.
 
  
In North America breeds from southern British Columbia east to southern Manitoba and south to Baja California and southern Texas. South American range very restricted and found only on mountain lakes in the Andes north of Bogota, Colombia. In Europe has a highly discontinuous breeding range but small populations persist in many Central and Eastern European countries. Largely absent from the north and west but there are small populations in Britain, central and eastern France, Belgium and central and southern Spain. Main range extends from Denmark and eastern Germany eastwards to the southern Urals and Caspian. Patchy range in the south-east with scattered populations in the Balkans and Turkey. Range extends east to Central Asia and also breeds in eastern China and the Russian Far East. Range also very patchy in Africa mainly in the east and south with breeding probable in Ethiopia and Kenya, Angola, Namibia and South Africa.
+
==Taxonomy==
 +
====Subspecies====
 +
There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 +
*''P. n. nigricollis'':
 +
:*Locally in [[Eurasia]]
 +
*''P. n. gurneyi'':
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:*[[Africa]] south of the Sahara
 +
*''P. n. californicus'':
 +
:*[[Canada]] to [[Mexico]]; winters to [[Guatemala]]
  
Winters in the Americas on the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California, across the southern USA from California to Texas and south to Guatemala. Main wintering range in Europe lies from southern Britain and the Netherlands south to Biscay and around much of the Mediterranean and Turkey. In recent decades has begun to winter regularly in the Canary Islands. Vagrants recorded in Norway and Finland and south to the Azores and Madeira.
+
The subspecies are very similar to each other, only realistically distinguishable by range. The extinct [[Colombian Grebe]] may have been better treated as a fourth subspecies, with recent genetic data showing it was embedded within Black-necked Grebe, very closely related to ''P. n. californicus''<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>.
  
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Breeds on small and shallow, densely vegetated freshwaters, in Eurasia often in association with Black-headed Gulls. Breeding sites are frequently abandoned in favour of new sites for no apparent reason. In winter on larger, more open freshwaters, estuaries and sheltered seas.
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Breeds on small and shallow, densely vegetated freshwaters, in Eurasia often in association with [[Black-headed Gull]]s or [[Common Tern]]s. Breeding sites are frequently abandoned in favour of new sites for no apparent reason.
  
==Breeding==
+
In winter on larger, more open freshwaters, estuaries and sheltered seas.
 +
==Behaviour==
 +
[[Image:Sized IMG 2322 filtered.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''P. n. nigricollis'' adult with young<br />Photo by {{user|Leo+Tukker|Leo Tukker}}<br />Broekpolder, Vlaardingen, [[Netherlands]], July 2016]]
 +
====Breeding====
 
Breeding begins mid-April in south of range to June in north, probably year-round in Africa. Breeds colonially, nest is a low mound of vegetation anchored to emergent vegetation in shallow water. Eggs: 3-5 (rarely 2-8), whitish initially soon becoming stained (44 x 30mm). Incubated by both sexes but mainly female for 20-21 days. Young tended by both sexes but divide brood in later stages, young able to feed themselves at 14 days, independent at 21 days. Single-brooded, possibly double-brooded at times.
 
Breeding begins mid-April in south of range to June in north, probably year-round in Africa. Breeds colonially, nest is a low mound of vegetation anchored to emergent vegetation in shallow water. Eggs: 3-5 (rarely 2-8), whitish initially soon becoming stained (44 x 30mm). Incubated by both sexes but mainly female for 20-21 days. Young tended by both sexes but divide brood in later stages, young able to feed themselves at 14 days, independent at 21 days. Single-brooded, possibly double-brooded at times.
 
+
====Diet====
==Diet==
 
 
Aquatic insects and their larvae, small fish, amphibians and crustaceans.
 
Aquatic insects and their larvae, small fish, amphibians and crustaceans.
 +
====Vocalisation====
 +
A wide range of calls when breeding including a display trill, a whistling ''bidder-widder-widder'' and a low ''poo-eep''. Alarm call is ''whit'' repeated 2-3 times.
  
==Subspecies==
+
{{ Audio|Podiceps nigricollis (song).mp3 }}
Four subspecies are recognised. Race californicus occurs in North America and andinus in Colombia, nominate race in Eurasia and gurneyi in sub-Saharan Africa.
 
  
==Bird Song==
+
==References==
A wide range of calls when breeding including a display trill, a whistling 'bidder-widder-widder' and a low 'poo-eep'. Alarm call is 'whit' repeated 2-3 times.
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Ogawa, L. M., et al. (2015). Opposing demographic histories reveal rapid evolution in grebes (Aves: Podicipedidae). ''The Auk'' 132: [http://www.aoucospubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1642/AUK-14-259.1 771–786].
 +
{{ref}}
 +
==External Links==
 +
{{GSearch|"Podiceps nigricollis" {{!}} "Black-necked Grebe" {{!}} "Eared Grebe"}}
 +
<br />
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{{VSearch|"Podiceps nigricollis" {{!}} "Black-necked Grebe" {{!}} "Eared Grebe"}}
 +
{{GS-checked}}
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
  
<flashmp3>Podiceps nigricollis (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
+
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Podiceps]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]]
''[[Media:Podiceps nigricollis (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
 
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Podiceps+nigricollis}}
 
[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 02:17, 11 February 2023

Alternative name: Eared Grebe

P. n. nigricollis in breeding plumage
Photo by martinuk
Chmielek, Poland, May 2002
Podiceps nigricollis

Identification

A medium-small grebe, length 28-34cm (11-13¼ in), wingspan 41-57cm (22½ in), weight 265-450 g.
Adult Breeding

  • Blackish above; browner towards rump
  • Black breast, head and neck
  • Flanks mottled rufous and black
  • Slight crest, peaking at top of head (not rear)
  • Tuft of golden-yellow extends from eye and droops down over ear coverts
  • Red iris
  • Black bill
  • Blackish-grey legs
P. n. nigricollis in winter plumage
Photo by Stuart Read
Alton Water, Suffolk, UK; 15 January 2016

Adult Non-breeding

  • Dull grey-brown and white
  • Appears black and white from a distance
  • Dark crown extends well below eye level and merges with grey ear coverts

Juvenile: Resemble non-breeding adult, but browner with cheeks tinged buff

Flight: Upperwing shows broad white trailing edge to secondaries but lacks white of forewing base seen in Slavonian.

At all seasons slightly upturned bill distinguishes from Slavonian and in non-breeding plumage the more diffuse border between dark and light on head is useful.

P. n. californicus in breeding plumage
Photo by macshark
Shoreline Lake, northern California, April 2009

Dark of crown extends to well below level of eye and merges with grey ear-coverts thus less clearly demarcated compared to Slavonian.

Similar Species

  • Colombian Grebe: this now-extinct [sub]species was very similar, differing only in orangey fore-neck.
  • Slavonian Grebe: larger, with stouter bill not upturned at tip; crest peaks at rear of head; orange neck in summer, more contrastingly black-and-white in winter with white cheeks.
  • Little Grebe: smaller, and much browner-toned in winter plumage when most likely to be confused.
  • Silvery Grebe and Junin Grebe are both structurally very similar to Black-necked Grebe, most resembling Black-necked's winter plumage, but do not overlap in range.

Distribution

Widespread in the both the Old and New Worlds but with a more southerly range than that of Slavonian Grebe. Migratory in northern parts of range.

  • Europe: Discontinuous breeding range but small populations present in many central and eastern European countries. Largely absent from the north and west but there are small populations in Britain, central and eastern France, Belgium and central and southern Spain. Main range extends from Denmark and eastern Germany eastwards to the southern Urals and Caspian. Patchy range in the south-east with scattered populations in the Balkans and Turkey. The main wintering range in Europe lies from southern Britain and the Netherlands south to Biscay and around much of the Mediterranean and Turkey. In recent decades has begun to winter regularly in the Canary Islands.
  • Asia: Range extends east to central Asia and also breeds in eastern China and the Russian far east, wintering east to Japan and south to southern China.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 3 subspecies[1]:

  • P. n. nigricollis:
  • P. n. gurneyi:
  • P. n. californicus:

The subspecies are very similar to each other, only realistically distinguishable by range. The extinct Colombian Grebe may have been better treated as a fourth subspecies, with recent genetic data showing it was embedded within Black-necked Grebe, very closely related to P. n. californicus[2].

Habitat

Breeds on small and shallow, densely vegetated freshwaters, in Eurasia often in association with Black-headed Gulls or Common Terns. Breeding sites are frequently abandoned in favour of new sites for no apparent reason.

In winter on larger, more open freshwaters, estuaries and sheltered seas.

Behaviour

P. n. nigricollis adult with young
Photo by Leo Tukker
Broekpolder, Vlaardingen, Netherlands, July 2016

Breeding

Breeding begins mid-April in south of range to June in north, probably year-round in Africa. Breeds colonially, nest is a low mound of vegetation anchored to emergent vegetation in shallow water. Eggs: 3-5 (rarely 2-8), whitish initially soon becoming stained (44 x 30mm). Incubated by both sexes but mainly female for 20-21 days. Young tended by both sexes but divide brood in later stages, young able to feed themselves at 14 days, independent at 21 days. Single-brooded, possibly double-brooded at times.

Diet

Aquatic insects and their larvae, small fish, amphibians and crustaceans.

Vocalisation

A wide range of calls when breeding including a display trill, a whistling bidder-widder-widder and a low poo-eep. Alarm call is whit repeated 2-3 times.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Ogawa, L. M., et al. (2015). Opposing demographic histories reveal rapid evolution in grebes (Aves: Podicipedidae). The Auk 132: 771–786.

Recommended Citation

External Links


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