Callum Macgregor

The species breeds in various types of shallow freshwater wetlands rich in vegetation. Outside breeding season occurs on open standing waters and marine (coastal) waters. Its breeding range covers most of Europe (excl. N parts), S & E Africa, Asia (discontinuous range), W & C North America (Llimona et al. 2020). The European population largely concentrated in Russia and Ukraine (74%) (Keller et al. 2020).

Intra-Eurasian migrant. Most birds fully migratory, some locally resident to the S. Mediterranean region/ S Europe hold the major wintering grounds. Its population trend in Europe is considered unknown. Evaluated as “Least Concern” (BirdLife International 2021).

Season of assessment

B

Population trendDecreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		71100-116000,88500
Red List categoryVU
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Black-necked Grebe

Possible weak migratory divide in C Europe (Germany). The birds from E Germany, Czechia and eastwards tend to move mostly S and SE – towards the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. Within W Europe short-distance movements are performed towards the wintering grounds along the Atlantic coast and W Mediterranean region. The Iberian Peninsula population is considered resident or locally dispersive. A number of recoveries from birds breeding in E Europe and even SW Siberia indicate much longer routes to SW Europe (nearly 6,000km in some cases). Largest winter concentrations have been recorded in Turkey, S Caspian Sea and France (Llimona et al. 2020).

A difficult species to trap, majority of birds ringed at very few locations. Limited number of birds marked in E Europe which holds the bulk of the European population.

Recoveries by Condition for Black-necked Grebe

Protected species in Europe. Most encounters recorded in SW Europe (about 92%). Despite the differences in sample size, the recoveries coming from dead birds pre-1960 and 1961-90 constituted almost equal share (88 and 89% respectively); the recoveries from shot/hunted birds were more numerous for the latter period (52% vs 38% respectively). Live recoveries of ringed birds heavily predominated after 1990 – 93% of all cases. The recoveries based on by-catch casualties and oil spills had bigger share during the period 1961-90 compared to the subsequent period.

Live recoveries of ringed birds tend to be concentrated in areas with active ringing projects (Czechia, Switzerland, Spain).

Annual Movements for Black-necked Grebe

Those birds breeding in C Europe and migrating SE reach the Balkan Peninsula and Black Sea region as early as Aug, overwintering in the region until early- to mid-Apr. Those taking the SW direction, incl. the W European and Danish breeders, reach the W Mediterranean region and the Atlantic coast as early as Aug, mostly Sep-Oct, the spring return starting in late Mar – Apr. The species undergoes a flightless wing-moulting period in late summer and autumn (Aug to Oct), either staying on the breeding grounds or moving to large wetlands to form – sometimes big, concentrations. Birds marked in Spain have been recorded in NW Africa (Morocco) as wintering between early Aug and mid-Mar. Breeding sites in SW Siberia and adjacent areas are reached as early as Apr, but mostly in May.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Black-necked Grebe

Post-breeding movements of C European breeders start as early as late summer, being more pronounced in mid-autumn; the wintering grounds in W and S Europe are usually reached in late autumn – early winter. Breeding birds in Denmark have been recorded overwintering along the Atlantic Coast, W & C Mediterranean region between early autumn and early spring.

The breeding sites are reached back in mid-spring. A big number of birds marked in Spain during late autumn and early winter have been subsequently recorded as breeding in E Europe and W to C Russia. SW Siberian breeders have been found wintering in Caspian Sea as well (Ilichev 1978). Some birds marked in Spain during autumn migration move S covering short distances to Morocco, occupying their wintering sites between late summer and early spring.

Boris Nikolov

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
2020 . European Breeding Bird Atlas 2: Distribution, Abundance and Change. European Bird Census Council & Lynx Edicions, BarcelonaEditor(s): Keller, V., S. Herrando, P. Voříšek, et al.
1978 . Migrations of birds of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Gaviiformes – Ciconiiformes. Nauka, MoscowEditor(s): Ilichev, V.
BirdLife International2021 . Species factsheet: Podiceps nigricollis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 06/03/2021
Llimona, F., del Hoyo, J., Christie, D.A., Jutglar, F. & Kirwan, G.M. 2020 . Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions, BarcelonaEditor(s): del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E.Dowloaded from https://www.hbw.com/node/52491 on 26/04/2020

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