Bird of the Week – Red-necked Grebe
The Red-necked Grebe is the larger of Alaska’s grebe species.
Red-necked Grebe Male
North American Birds described this species as “territorial and interspecifically aggressive, commonly threatening or making underwater attack dives against other waterbirds that enter its breeding territory.” It’s a bully, and a raucous, noisy bully at that. That’s right; it’s a Redneck.
It typically nests on slightly larger ponds than its smaller cousin, the Horned Grebe. Unlike most waterbirds, this grebe builds its nest on a floating nest of bulrushes. If the water rises, the nest floats up, instead of being drowned.
For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
Discovered a red-necked grebe floating stick nest all decorated with bits of greenery…on Pickhandle Lake in the Yukon.
Word Origin & History
grebe
1766, from Fr. grèbe, possibly from Breton krib “a comb,” since some species are crested.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Young grebes have stripes,but so do wild Rooshian boar piglets and grebes have more traits? in common with flamingoes than any other bird.(11) Tis a funny old world.
I wasn’t expecting this bird to live up (down?) to the title “redneck,” but it qualifies. Thanks for another great photo and ornithology lesson, WC.