Red-Necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegena (Boddaert, 1783)

		spring juvenile winter
2012-05-04 Batpakkol lake, Kamysty reg, Kostanay oblast, 2014-08-13 2013-12-12 Tupkaragan, Mangystau.	© Aleksey Timoshenko © Aibar Magazov© Aisagali Kadirov

Distribution

Breeds in northern part of Kazakhstan in south to Northern Trans-Caspian area, Kurgaldzhino and Zaisan basin; and also in Southern Trans-Balkhash area, Ile valley, Alakol depression and in Syrdaria valley. Please see detailed distribution in the section Subspecies.

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits lakes richly covered with surface vegetation and smaller lakes, some almost entirely covered by reed-beds. Prefers lakes in which reed-beds alternate with small spaces of open water. Appears at end March - early May. Migrates singly, in pairs or small flocks of up to 4-6 birds. Breeds in single pairs not close one another. Nesting begins late April - June. Floating nests from decayed stems and leaves are built among vegetation, but they are more often fastened to reed stalks. Clutches of 3-6 eggs, usually 3, less often of 4-5; found from early May – mid-June. Both parents incubate for 23 days. Brood juveniles noted from early June to mid August. Autumn migration occurs mainly in September; latest birds observed end October – first 10 days of November.

Subspecies

Podiceps grisegena grisegena (Boddaert, 1783) Description. Male wing length 160-183 (172), female 156-172 (164) mm; bill length of males 55-71 (62), of females 52-64 (59) mm; the outside finger (with claw) is shorter than 72 mm. Distribution. Inhabits reservoirs on plains, excluding Balkhash-Alakol depression. In July 2003 2240 birds counted on Aral Sea.

Podiceps grisegena holboellii (Reinhardt, 1853) Description. Male wing length 185-212 (196), female 173-204 (188) mm; bill length of males 55-71 (62), of females 52-64 (59) mm; the outside finger (with claw) is longer than 72 mm. Distribution. Inhabits Balkhash-Alakol depression. Description of subspecies balchaschensis from Balkhash lake unclear, as some authors lump it together with holboellii, others - with griseigena. Accidental occurrence 18 June 1974 of one bird (Bolshoye Almatinskoye lake). At Sorbulak lake, 10 birds recorded 1 December 2002.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.