Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegena

Introduction

This medium-sized grebe is a scarce winter visitor, mainly to the coasts of eastern Scotland, and eastern and southern England.

Difficult to see for the casual observer, Red-necked Grebes are found in very small numbers on the sea from October to March. In winter plumage they can be tricky to separate from their larger cousin, the Great Crested Grebe, being mainly shades of grey, although the short, thick neck is a good feature.

Atlas data suggest a wintering population of around 50–60 birds is present in most years. Breeding attempts by this predominantly European species are sporadic and very rare, which is a shame as the lovely rufous neck and black and white face make this a striking bird in breeding plumage.

Key Stats

Scarce

824g

4-5

<1%

BTO Records

28k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

% expansion

No data

7.4% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Red-necked Grebe

ID Videos

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This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.

Winter Grebes

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Red-necked Grebe, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Song:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern

Red listed

Species of European Conservation Concern

Vulnerable

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

Bern(II), Bonn(II*), AEWA

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

1787

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Red-necked Grebes are regular, but scarce, winter visitors to the UK. The majority of birds are observed along North Sea coastlines and the south coast of England, with only sporadic sightings inland. WeBS data WeBS data indicate that numbers of Red-necked Grebes peaked in the mid-1990s, after which there has been a dramatic decline in recorded sightings across the UK.

Distribution

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In winter, Red-necked Grebes can mostly be found along North Sea coasts from Angus to Kent, along the south coast of England, and at scattered at inland sites, mainly in eastern England. They occasionally attempt to breed but most summer records are of single individuals.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

% occupied in breeding season

0.07%

No. occupied in winter

242

% occupied in winter

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Red-necked Grebe

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Red-necked Grebe

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

7.4 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Winter Distribution change for Red-necked Grebe

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution change for Red-necked Grebe

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Red-necked Grebe are mostly scarce winter visitors, present from early autumn through to late winter and early spring; odd individuals summer in some years.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Red-necked Grebe movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Red-necked Grebe, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

1(2)

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

51x34 mm

Mass (% shell)

30.5g (10%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

5-4 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

2-6 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Male + Female

Typical duration

23-20 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Precocial, downy

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Survival of adults

All adults

0.8

Source

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Ring Size

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Red-necked Grebe

Classification and Codes

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Order: Podicipediformes
Family: Podicipedidae
Scientific name: Podiceps grisegena
Authority: Boddaert, 1783

BTO 2-letter code: RX
BTO 5-letter code: RENGR
Euring code number: 100

Alternate species names

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Catalan: cabussó gris
Czech: potápka rudokrká
Danish: Gråstrubet Lappedykker
Dutch: Roodhalsfuut
Estonian: hallpõsk-pütt
Finnish: härkälintu
French: Grèbe jougris
Gaelic: Gobhlachan-ruadh

German: Rothalstaucher
Hungarian: vörösnyakú vöcsök
Icelandic: Sefgoði
Irish: Foitheach Píbrua
Italian: Svasso collorosso
Latvian: pelekvaigu dukuris
Lithuanian: rudakaklis kragas
Norwegian: Gråstrupedykker

Polish: perkoz rdzawoszyi
Portuguese: mergulhão-de-faces-brancas
Slovak: potápka cervenokrká
Slovenian: rjavovrati ponirek
Spanish: Somormujo cuellirrojo
Swedish: gråhakedopping
Welsh: Gwyach Yddfgoch

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Red-necked Grebe from BTO scientists.

Causes of Change and Solutions

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Causes of change

The European breeding population of Red-necked Grebes, from which our winter visitors derive, is decreasing; however, the drivers behind this change are unknown [BirdLife International 2021].

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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