The red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) belong to the grebe family, Podicipedidae. The red-necked grebe are distributed in Europe, America and Asia including Indian subcontinent. There two recognized subspecies of these birds. The subspecies P. g. grisegena occurs in Europe and Asia including India. P. g. holbollii occurs in Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Canada and USA.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has categorized and evaluated these bird species and has listed them as of "least concern".
These grebes are migratory birds found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. They are medium sized birds, measuring 40 to 50 cm in length and weighing 500 to 1,600 grams. They have a distinctive breeding plumage, males and females looking alike. They have black cap and chestnut neck.
In winter red-necked grebes are seen just beyond the waves on the calmer coasts. They migrate to freshwater lakes, ponds and marshes for breeding. They are good swimmers and divers. To escape danger they would rather dive into the water than fly. These birds feed on fish, crustaceans, insects and molluscs.
Red-necked grebes are monogamous birds and breed during April to June. The nest is built near the water edge or on a floating platform. The nest contains four to five eggs. The parents take turns to incubate the eggs. The chicks are fed by the parents. The hatchlings are carried on the back.
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| Indian bird - Red-necked grebe - Podiceps grisegena |
| Biological classification of Podiceps grisegena | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Podicipediformes |
| Family: | Podicipedidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Podiceps |
| Species: | P. grisegena |
| Binomial name: | Podiceps grisegena |
| Distribution: | a rare winter vagrant in Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of northern and western India; |
| Feeding habits: | fish, small crustaceans, aquatic insects, molluscs and larvae; |
| IUCN status listing: | Least Concern |
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gr%C3%A8bejougrisparade.jpg
Author: Dewhurst, Donna | License: public domain
Current topic in Birds of India: Red-necked grebe - Podiceps grisegena.