Black-necked Grebe Identification
Its scientific name is 'Podiceps nigricollis', from the family Podicipedidae (order Podicipediformes)
What I look like
The Black-necked Grebe is slightly larger than the Little Grebe.
Its silhouette resembles that of the Little Grebe with a plump body and truncated rear, but the head is less rounded.
Its bill is thin and pointed.
It has red eyes.
In breeding plumage, the head, neck, and upper body are black with brown flanks. The head features a ruffled yellow tuft, and the black feathers of the crown are erectile.
In non-breeding plumage, it has a black upper head and body, white cheeks, a grayish collar, and light gray flanks.
The juveniles have a buff color behind their light brown eyes.
They can be confused with the Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage, but the latter has black eyes, a rounder head, and a lighter and thicker bill.
My songs, my calls
The Black-necked Grebe makes calm, rising, and repeated calls. "pu-iit"
In summer, during courtship displays or territorial conflicts, one can hear rapid, low-pitched, vibrating trills. "hiiiiii tip hiiiiii tip…" These display calls serve as their song.
It is silent in winter.
How I behave
The Black-necked Grebe often lives in colonies, sometimes in the company of the Black-headed Gull, especially in winter.
In flight, it is recognizable by its rapid wing beats, neck stretched forward, and lobed toes that dangle at the rear.
How I reproduce
The Black-necked Grebe nests in colonies, often with Black-headed Gulls, which offer greater security to protect the nests.
During vocal displays, the pair stands face to face, turning their heads from left to right, puffing up their crown.
The nest is built on a raft of vegetation. The pair continuously adds to it to keep the eggs above the water.
The chicks ride on the backs of their parents and even stay under their wings while diving during their first days of life.
What I eat
The Black-necked Grebe mainly eats large aquatic invertebrates, insects, larvae, and crustaceans.
It searches for its food at varying depths in the water, depending on the availability of prey.
Where to find me
The Black-necked Grebe lives on shallow freshwater lakes and ponds rich in vegetation.
It is primarily migratory.
It winters along the coasts, in the west and south, in saltwater, and returns inland, extending east and north in summer.
It is sometimes sedentary, in a localized manner (in southern Europe and near the English Channel).