Red-necked Grebe Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesRed-necked Grebe
Breeding adult
Large grebe with long neck and fairly stout, straight bill. Breeding adults have a black cap ending sharply at gray-white cheeks and a chestnut-red neck. Note eye is not red.
© Richard Poort / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 19, 2017Nonbreeding adult/immature
Large grebe with long neck and fairly large bill. Solid black cap with clean gray-white cheeks contrasting with darker gray "ear" patch. Often holds bill pointing downward. Eye is not red.
© Samuel Paul Galick / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, February 10, 2014Adult
Breeds in shallow freshwater lakes and marshes. Like other grebes, places nest on floating mass of vegetation.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 04, 2007Not all videos have sound
Immature
Large grebe with fairly stout, straight, yellowish bill. In flight, neck is long; white patch on leading edge of wings near shoulder. Immatures are washed grayish with darker crown.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 04, 2015Juvenile
Fairly large grebe with yellowish bill. Juveniles have striped faces and reddish chestnut necks.
© Jacob Drucker / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 15, 2016Breeding adult
Breeds on shallow freshwater lakes and marshes. Like other grebes, pairs perform several types of displays, beginning on the wintering grounds and continuing through migration.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 20, 2012Nonbreeding adult/immature
At distance, partially submerged body can appear small. Bill is yellowish with black cap and white cheeks. Winters along seacoasts.
© Pat McKay / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, March 24, 2018Similar SpeciesHorned Grebe
Breeding adult
Horned Grebes are smaller with shorter bills than Red-necked Grebes. In breeding plumage they have golden tufts along their heads and dark cheeks.
© Kyle Blaney / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, June 01, 2015Similar SpeciesHorned Grebe
Nonbreeding
Nonbreeding birds are separable by size. Horned Grebes are smaller with a smaller, darker bill and a shorter neck than Red-necked Grebes.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, February 21, 2015Similar SpeciesEared Grebe
Breeding adult
Eared Grebes are smaller with shorter, thinner bills than Red-necked Grebes. In breeding plumage they have dark necks with a golden fan of feathers on the cheek.
© David Yeamans / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 29, 2017Similar SpeciesEared Grebe
Nonbreeding
Nonbreeding Eared Grebes have a dark smudge on the cheek whereas Red-necked Grebes have a cleaner border between crown and cheek.
© Charmaine Anderson / Macaulay LibraryOntario, January 16, 2017Similar SpeciesWestern Grebe
Adult
Western Grebes are larger and slimmer with a thinner, longer bill than Red-necked Grebes.
© Will Brooks / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 21, 2015Similar SpeciesWestern x Clark's Grebe (hybrid)
Adult
Clark's Grebes are larger and slimmer with a thinner, longer bill than Red-necked Grebes.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 27, 2011Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Grebes(Order: Podicipediformes, Family: Podicipedidae)
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