Bird of the Week – Red-necked Grebe
The Red-necked Grebe is the larger of Alaska’s grebe species.
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.