Red-necked Grebe Facts for Kids

A red-necked grebe, showing its long neck and pointy beak.

The red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena) is a cool water bird that lives in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. These birds are known for their amazing diving skills and their bright reddish-brown neck during breeding season. They spend most of their lives on water, rarely coming to land except to nest. Red-necked grebes are migratory birds, meaning they travel long distances between their breeding and wintering grounds each year.

What Does It Look Like?
- Size and Weight
Where Do They Live?
- Summer Homes
- Winter Homes
What Do They Eat?
- Favorite Foods
Life Cycle and Reproduction
- Courtship and Mating
- Nesting Habits
  - Eggs and Chicks
Interesting Facts
Images for kids
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What Does It Look Like?

The red-necked grebe is a medium-sized water bird. It has a long neck and a pointy beak. During the summer, when they are ready to have babies, their neck turns a beautiful reddish-brown color. They also have a black cap on their head and white cheeks. Their back is dark, and their belly is lighter. In winter, their colors are duller, mostly gray and white.

Size and Weight

Red-necked grebes are usually about 40 to 50 centimeters (16 to 20 inches) long. They can weigh between 700 and 1,600 grams (1.5 to 3.5 pounds). Males are often a little bigger than females.

Where Do They Live?

Red-necked grebes live in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This means they are found in places with mild climates, not too hot and not too cold.

Summer Homes

In the summer, they live in North America, Europe, and Asia. They like to build their nests in freshwater lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers. These places usually have lots of plants growing in the water, which helps them hide their nests.

Winter Homes

When winter comes, red-necked grebes fly to warmer places. They often move to coastal areas or large lakes that do not freeze. They can be found along the coasts of North America, Europe, and Asia during the colder months.

What Do They Eat?

Red-necked grebes are excellent divers. They use their strong legs to swim underwater and catch their food. Their diet mainly consists of small fish.

Favorite Foods

They also eat other small water creatures. This includes insects, crustaceans like crayfish, and even tadpoles. They are very good at hunting underwater. They can stay submerged for a long time to catch their prey.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

Red-necked grebes have interesting ways of finding a mate and raising their young. They are known for their unique courtship displays.

Courtship and Mating

During spring, male and female grebes perform special dances on the water. They might swim side-by-side, dive together, or even stand up on the water and shake their heads. These dances help them choose a partner. Once they pair up, they stay together for the breeding season.

Nesting Habits

Red-necked grebes build floating nests. They use plants from the water, like reeds and grasses, to make a platform that floats on the surface. These nests are usually hidden among thick plants near the water's edge. This helps protect their eggs and chicks from predators.

Eggs and Chicks

A female grebe usually lays three to five eggs. The eggs are a pale greenish-white color. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm until they hatch. This usually takes about three to four weeks.

When the chicks hatch, they are covered in soft, downy feathers. They can swim almost immediately. Young grebes often ride on their parents' backs. This keeps them warm and safe from predators like large fish or birds of prey. The parents feed the chicks for several weeks until they are old enough to find food on their own.

Interesting Facts

Red-necked grebes are very shy birds. They often dive underwater to escape danger.
They have special feet that are lobed, not webbed like ducks. This helps them swim and dive very efficiently.
Unlike many birds, grebes have their legs set far back on their bodies. This is great for swimming but makes walking on land very difficult for them.