Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 黑頸鸊鷉
Category I. Rare winter visitor.
IDENTIFICATION
Nov 2019, Michelle & Peter Wong.
28-34 cm. Similar in size or slightly larger than Little Grebe but has larger head, steeper crown, narrower more pointed bill, less dumpy body, red iris and more contrasting plumage pattern in good light. The dark area on head is more extensive due mainly to downward extension of diffusely bordered area behind eye; throat, sides of neck and flanks whiter and more contrasting against crown and upperparts. First-winter birds tend to be browner than adults.
VOCALISATIONS
Generally silent in winter but can give a wheezy, upslurred ‘weet’.
RANGE & SYSTEMATICS
The nominate taxon breeds from northwest Europe east between 40oN and 60oN as far east as western Mongolia, and in northeast China; it winters coastally in Japan, south China, around the Mediterranean and scattered localities between. The North American taxon P. n. californicus breeds in southern Canada and northwest USA and winters coastally and inland in west and south U.S.A. The African subspecies P. n. gurneyi is largely resident. In China breeds in scattered areas from Xinjiang east to Heilongjiang and winters in the southern half of the country (Liu and Chen 2020).
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT PREFERENCE
All records have occurred in the Deep Bay area on ponds managed for wildlife, fish ponds or in intertidal areas of Deep Bay at Tsim Bei Tsui.
OCCURRENCE
Records have occurred in the period 19 November to 4 March:
1986: one at Tsim Bei Tsui during 26-30 November (Kennerley 1987).
1989-90: at Mai Po two during 10-11 December and one (presumed same) 22 January to 3 February.
1992: two at Mai Po on 11 December.
2002: one at Lok Ma Chau from 20 November to 3 December.
2003: one at Mai Po NR on 27 December.
2006: one at Tsim Bei Tsui from 18 February to 4 March.
2009-10: one at Tsim Bei Tsui on 20 December and 24 January (presumed same).
2015-16: one near Mai Po NR on 18 December and 11 January (presumed same).
2019: one at San Tin from 19 November to 17 December.
BEHAVIOUR, FORAGING & DIET
No observations.
CONSERVATION STATUS
IUCN: Least Concern. Population trend unknown.
Kennerley, P. R. (1987). Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis at Tsim Bei Tsui. A new species for Hong Kong. Hong Kong Bird Report 1986: 80.
Liu, Y. and Chen, Y. H. (eds) (2020). The CNG Field Guide to the Birds of China (in Chinese). Hunan Science and Technology Publication House, Changsha.
