Red-Necked Grebe Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Red-Necked Grebes are a rare sight in the UK and are only typically seen in sheltered bays on the south and east coast of England and Scotland. They are winter visitors with a small number arriving in the UK to escape the harsher conditions in their northern European breeding grounds.
There have been reports of a few birds remaining in the UK during the summer and some have been reported to have tried to breed here on some occasions. Although Red-Necked Grebes are smaller and stockier than their cousins the Great Crested Grebes and have shorter, thicker bills, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two species when they’re in their winter plumage.
In summer, the male Red-Necked Grebe has a dark back, greyish-white sides, a black cap, grey cheeks, grey legs, a rich red neck and red upper breast. The short, thick bill is dark with a bright yellow base.
To find out more about these interesting winter visitors, keep reading.
Table of Contents
How Long Does A Red-Necked Grebe Live?
The average lifespan of the Red-Necked Grebe is around 6 to 9 years with many reaching sexual maturity at around 1 year. However, most don’t become sexually active until they are around 2 years old.
The lifespan of the Red-Necked Grebe is dependent on several factors including; the abundance of food, climatic conditions, pollution, habitat destruction and predation.
How Fast Can A Red-Necked Grebe Fly?
Red-Necked Grebes can achieve a flight speed of around 37 mph (60 km/h). They have a fast, direct flight with quick wing beats.
In flight, they stretch their necks and hold their heads level with their bodies and stretch their legs and feet out behind them.
Having said that, they are more likely to respond to any potential threat by diving underwater than they are to take to the air.
Are Red-Necked Grebes Aggressive?
Red-Necked Grebes are not a naturally aggressive species but they will display aggressive behaviour to defend their territory and nesting site during the breeding period. Both the male and female will defend their territory aggressively against other species.
They will chase their opponents and flap their wings while pattering across the water with their bills thrusting forwards. They can also become quite vocal making a number of different sounds including; wailing, howling, hissing, purring, quacking, clucking and rattling.
What Is A Red-Necked Grebe’s Habitat?
Red-Necked Grebes prefer freshwater habitats like small lakes, ponds and marshes during the breeding season. They can typically be found in shallow wetlands surrounded by vegetation and forests.
During winter they are likely to be found in coastal bays and estuaries which have deep water and plenty of fish. Seawater is their first choice but they will also frequent inland lakes as well.
How Long Does It Take For A Red-Necked Grebe To Build A Nest?
Red-Necked Grebes typically take about 2 to 4 days to build their nests. Both the male and female are involved in nest building, making it a shared responsibility.
They generally work together gathering nesting materials which include; sticks, twigs, aquatic vegetation and other plant materials. They form a floating nest which is anchored to submerged vegetation.
By working together, they make sure the nest is built securely and efficiently and will provide a stable platform to raise their chicks.
Eggs
Once the nest has been successfully assembled and both birds are happy with it, the female will lay her eggs. This is an important part for securing the next generation of Red-Necked Grebes.
When Do Red-Necked Grebes Lay Eggs?
Red-Necked Grebes usually lay their eggs from late April through to early June. The exact laying time is subject to weather conditions and geographical locations.
Like many birds that nest in northern locations, Red-Necked Grebes need to have raised their chicks before the colder weather sets in and they need to fly south.
How Many Eggs Does A Red-Necked Grebe Lay?
They can lay anywhere between 1 to 9 eggs but a typical clutch contains around 4 to 5 eggs. The pair will usually only raise one brood per season.
However, if the first brood were successfully raised early in the season, it is possible that they might attempt to raise a second brood.
What Do Red-Necked Grebe Eggs Look Like?
The eggs are light blue when they’re first laid, but will often turn white within 24 hours. Each egg is around 51 x 34 mm in size and weighs around 30.5 grams.
The eggshell makes up around 10% of that weight.
How Long Do Red-Necked Grebe Eggs Take To Hatch?
The eggs of Red-Necked Grebes are incubated for anywhere between 21 to 33 days before they hatch. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs.
They will also often leave the nest for a short while during the night mainly to evade nocturnal predators. This could either be for self-preservation or to divert attention away from the nest to protect the eggs. However, this period of abandonment doesn’t appear to affect the egg hatching process.
Chicks
After the incubation period has completed, the next stage in the life cycle of the Red-Necked Grebe is the chick rearing stage.
How Many Chicks Does A Red-Necked Grebe Have?
The number of chicks that hatch should correspond to the number of eggs laid. However, actual survival rates vary, in Red-Necked Grebes most of the eggs do successfully hatch and produce healthy chicks.
That doesn’t mean that all of the chicks will survive to the fledgling stage however. The survival of the chicks depends on a number of factors including; environmental factors, predation and competition for food.
Having said that, if conditions are favourable, it is possible for most or even all of the chicks to survive.
When Do Red-Necked Grebe Chicks Open Their Eyes?
Red-Necked Grebe chicks are precocial which means they hatch covered in downy feathers and with their eyes open. As soon as they hatch, the chicks climb on their parents backs and pretty much stay there until they reach around 10 to 17 days old.
The parents do not interfere with food finding or feeding the chicks whilst they are being carried. As the eggs of Red-Necked Grebe chicks are hatched at different times, the parents will care for the younger chicks longer and can become aggressive to the older ones.
When Do Red-Necked Grebe Chicks Fledge?
Red-Necked Grebe chicks typically fledge or take their first flight around 50 to 70 days after hatching. Once they fledge, the chicks remain with their parents for some time and are still fed by the parents for around 50 to 54 days after they fledge.
In many cases, the brood will separate with each parent taking half of the chicks. This separation helps to lessen the demand for food gathering of each parent and ensures that all chicks get an equal share in that food.
SEE ALSO: Parrot Crossbill Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
The average lifespan of a Red-Necked Grebe is around 6 to 9 years in the wild.
The eggs of the Red-Necked Grebe are often a bluish colour when they are first laid. But they typically turn white after around 24 hours.
Red-Necked Grebe are most often observed in sheltered bays on the south and east coasts of England and up into eastern Scotland.
