Red-necked Grebe - Podiceps grisegena

A Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) has been present at the Las Gallinas water treatment ponds since November 5th, and we're hoping it will stay the winter. It seems to be successfully foraging, mostly in the east end of Pond #1 and usually in front of the "island" where the BC Night-Herons roost. Yesterday it got close enough for some photos, which although back-lit still provides a good study of head and bill shape. 

The large size (at 18" it's a little bigger than the Ring-necked Ducks seen there), yellow bill and dark brown iris make it easy to distinguish from other grebes. The relatively stout neck and head shape, along with the bill, might suggest a loon at first. The dingy gray of the neck and the way the gray extends back from the chin and then up behind the "ear" brings to mind the Eared Grebe, but in fact the Red-necked is more closely related to the Horned Grebe (and to the Great Crested Grebe, which is not seen here). This is probably an adult RN Grebe, as the juvenile often shows some brown or chestnut color on the foreneck, as well as a lighter-colored iris.

The Red-necked Grebe breeds at inland lakes and ponds in Alaska, across lower western Canada, and northern U.S. from Wisconsin to Washington. They also breed in northern Eurasia, and the global population is estimated at 200,000-300,000. In the fall the RN Grebe migrates south along the west coast, down to central California, and across the Great Lakes to the east coast, where they range down to North Carolina. Although the bird at Las Gallinas seemed content to ignore the many Ring-necked Ducks, Greater Scaups and Canvasbacks in the area, it is know to be an aggressive species, specializing it a sneak attack called the "Sinister Dive". It will approach another bird from underwater like a torpedo then stab at the victim. They have even been know to kill ducks as large as a Northern Pintail, although they are more likely to attack diving ducks. They eat a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans and insects, all usually swallowed while still underwater. Taxonomy below.

Order: Podicipediformes -  Grebes. Only one family here.

Family: Podicipedidae - The Grebes. 20 species worldwide - 7 in U.S., 6 in California.

Genus: Podiceps - Largest grebe genus, with 8 species worldwide, of which one is threatened (P. taczanowskii, the Junin Grebe). We have 3 Podiceps in the U.S., including Red-necked, Eared and Horned Grebes. Non-U.S. Podiceps grebes besides the Junin are the Great, Great-Crested, Silvery, and Hooded Grebes.

Species: Podiceps grisegena (literally "Gray-cheeked Grebe"). Largest of the Podiceps, and distinctly larger than our Horned and Eared Grebes.

Subspecies: Podiceps grisegena holboellii, a.k.a. "Holboell's Grebe". Holboell is not featured in Mearns book, but I believe the name refers to C. Holboell, a Danish naturalist of the mid-19th century, who studied birds from Greenland, including Redpoll species.