Black-necked grebe

    Podiceps nigricollis

Castilian: Zampullín cuellinegro

Catalan: Cabussó collnegre

Gallego: Mergullón de pescozo negro

Euskera: Txilinporta lepabeltza

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Podicipediformes

Family: Podicipedidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Near Threatened”.

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THREATS

Loss of habitat, prolonged periods of drought and disturbances during nesting season.

Length / size: 28-34 cm / 56-60 cm

Identification: It is slightly bigger than the little grebe and, when seen up close, its red eyes stand out. In winter its plumage is grey and black with the throat and cheeks being white; during mating season, its red flanks and yellow crests that come out from the eye constrast with its black body.

Song: It makes a high-pitched, ascending and repetitive "puheee-phee". In winter it is silent.

Diet: It feeds on insects and larvae, and sometimes its diet includes crustaceans, amphibians, mollusks, and small fish.

Reproduction: It forms small colonies of less than 10 nests, sometimes with other species. Both sexes build the nest, which is a platform made of plant matter that is anchored to the vegetation. A few hours after hatching, the chicks leave the nest and climb onto the adult's back.

HABITAT

It occupies wet areas, with open waters and medium depth, rich in nutrients and emerging vegetation.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is distributed primarily in the southern half of the peninsula, in western Andalusia, lakes in La Mancha, and Levante.

In Castile and León: A very localised breeder, with the Monteagudo swamp (Soria) being its only stable breeding place.

Movements and migrations: After the breeding period, many specimens move south, to areas where the water does not freeze and where they are more protected. The Spanish breeding population congregates in certain wintering areas, although there are also migrations to northern Africa.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 300-700 breeding pairs (2002 data).

In Castile and León: