Eared Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
Least ConcernAves · Podicipediformes · Podicipedidae
About
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 in its darker areas. This species is present in parts of Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas.
Fun Fact
gurneyi is the smallest of the three subspecies, in addition to having a greyer head and upper parts.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Restricted to islands in the Gulf of California, the Salton Sea, and Baja California.
Diet
Eats mostly insects, of both adult and larval stages, as well as crustaceans, molluscs, tadpoles, and small frogs and fish.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Change
- Human Disturbance