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Birds by name
Conservation status: Red
Arguably the most attractive of the UK's breeding grebes, with its golden ear tufts and trilling calls. It looks similar to the black-necked grebe in winter but has whiter cheeks which almost meet at the back of the neck. Due to its small breeding population it is an Amber List species.
In the breeding season they are mainly found north and south of the Great Glen and in Strathspey and can be watched in the breeding season at the RSPB Loch Ruthven nature reserve. In winter they can be found around UK coasts with the Moray Firth, the Firth of Forth, the Clyde Estuary and Islay in Scotland and Pagham Harbour, Sussex being important sites.
They arrive back in Scotland in March and April, leaving again in late summer. Found at winter sites between October and March.
Fish and insect larvae
* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.
Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto