The
red-necked grebe (
Podiceps grisegena) is a species of
water bird in the
grebe family, Podicipedidae, found across the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. It breeds on shallow freshwater lakes, marshes and ponds, and winters mainly along sheltered coasts and other large bodies of water. In breeding plumage, adults have a black cap, pale grey face and throat, and a rusty-red neck, while winter birds are duller grey. The species is a strong swimmer and diver, feeding on fish, aquatic insects and other invertebrates. Red-necked grebes build floating nests among emergent vegetation, and newly hatched chicks often ride on their parents' backs. It is classified as a
least-concern species by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature. This red-necked grebe of the subspecies
P. g. grisegena in breeding plumage was photographed in
Amager Common, a park and nature reserve in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp
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