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Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

IUCN Red List history

Year Category
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern

Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency Does not normally occur in forest
Land mass type   Average mass -

Distribution

  Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 9,250,000 medium
Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) 9,250,000 medium
Number of locations -
Fragmentation -

Population & trend

  Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals poor Estimated 2009
Population trend Unknown -
Number of subpopulations - - -
Largest subpopulation - - -
Generation length (yrs) 7.1 - - -
Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.3,900,000-4,200,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), while national population estimates include: c.100-10,000 breeding pairs, c.50-1,000 individuals on migration and c.1,000-10,000 wintering individuals in China; c.50-10,000 wintering individuals in Korea and c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 individuals on migration in Russia (Brazil 2009).
Trend justification: The overall population trend is uncertain, as some populations are decreasing, while others are stable, have unknown trends or are increasing (Wetlands International 2006). This species has undergone a small or statistically insignificant increase over the last 40 years in North America (data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven 2007).

Country/Territory distribution

Country/Territory Occurrence status Extinct Breeding Non-breeding Passage
Afghanistan Native No Yes    
Albania Native No      
Algeria Native No      
Angola Vagrant No      
Armenia Native No      
Austria Native No      
Azerbaijan Native No      
Bahrain Native No   Yes  
Belarus Native No Yes    
Belgium Native No      
Bermuda (to UK) Vagrant No      
Bosnia and Herzegovina Native No      
Botswana Native No      
Bulgaria Native No      
Cameroon Vagrant No      
Canada Native No Yes    
China (mainland) Native No      
Costa Rica Native No   Yes  
Croatia Native No      
Cyprus Native No   Yes  
Czech Republic Native No      
Denmark Native No Yes    
Egypt Native No      
El Salvador Native No      
Estonia Native No Yes    
Ethiopia Native No      
Finland Vagrant No      
France Native No     Yes
Georgia Native No      
Germany Native No     Yes
Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant No      
Greece Native No     Yes
Guatemala Native No      
Hong Kong (China) Vagrant No      
Hungary Native No      
India Native No      
Iran, Islamic Republic of Native No     Yes
Iraq Native No   Yes  
Ireland Native No      
Israel Native No   Yes  
Italy Native No   Yes  
Japan Native No      
Jordan Native No   Yes Yes
Kazakhstan Native No Yes    
Kenya Native No      
Kuwait Native No   Yes Yes
Kyrgyzstan Native No      
Latvia Native No Yes    
Lebanon Native No   Yes Yes
Libya Native No      
Liechtenstein Native No Yes    
Lithuania Native No Yes    
Luxembourg Native No      
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Native No      
Malta Native No   Yes  
Mexico Native No      
Moldova Native No Yes    
Mongolia Native No Yes    
Montenegro Native No      
Morocco Native No      
Myanmar Vagrant No      
Namibia Native No Yes    
Nepal Native No      
Netherlands Native No      
Nigeria Vagrant No      
North Korea Native No      
Norway Vagrant No      
Oman Native No   Yes Yes
Pakistan Native No      
Palestinian Authority Territories Native No   Yes  
Philippines Vagrant No      
Poland Native No      
Portugal Native No   Yes  
Qatar Native No      
Romania Native No     Yes
Russia (Asian) Native No Yes    
Russia (Central Asian) Native No Yes    
Russia (European) Native No Yes    
Saudi Arabia Native No   Yes  
Serbia Native No      
Seychelles Vagrant No      
Slovakia Native No     Yes
Slovenia Native No      
South Africa Native No Yes    
South Korea Native No      
Spain Native No      
Sudan Native No Yes Yes  
Swaziland Vagrant No      
Sweden Native No Yes    
Switzerland Native No      
Syria Native No   Yes  
Taiwan (China) Native No      
Tajikistan Native No      
Tanzania Native No      
Tunisia Native No   Yes  
Turkey Native No     Yes
Turkmenistan Native No Yes    
Uganda Native No      
Ukraine Native No     Yes
United Arab Emirates Native No      
United Kingdom Native No      
USA Native No Yes    
Uzbekistan Native No Yes    
Vietnam Native No      
Yemen Native No   Yes Yes
Zimbabwe Native No Yes    

Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria

Country/Territory IBA Name IBA link
Afghanistan Kole Hashmat Khan site factsheet
Albania Lake Ohrid site factsheet
China (mainland) Sayram Nur site factsheet
China (mainland) Tarim Euphrates Poplar Forest Nature Reserve site factsheet
China (mainland) Xayar forest and wetland site factsheet
Egypt Lake Nasser site factsheet
Egypt Lake Qarun Protected Area site factsheet
Ethiopia Abijatta - Shalla Lakes National Park site factsheet
France Etang de Thau site factsheet
France Etangs de Citis, Lavalduc, Engrenier, Pourra, l'Estomac, Fos et salines de Rassuen et de Fos site factsheet
France Etangs Montpellierains site factsheet
France Golfe du Morbihan et Etier de Penerf site factsheet
France La Dombes site factsheet
France Plaine du Forez site factsheet
France Rade de Brest: Baie de Daoulas et Anse du Poulmic site factsheet
Greece Amvrakikos gulf site factsheet
Greece Lake Mitrikou (Ismarida) site factsheet
Greece Porto Lagos, Lake Vistonis, and coastal lagoons (Lakes of Thrace) site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Anzali Mordab complex site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Arjan Protected Area site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Bandar Kiashar lagoon and mouth of Sefid Rud site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gori Gol site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Uromiyeh site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of South Caspian shore, from Astara to Gomishan site factsheet
Iraq Bahr Al Milh site factsheet
Israel Jezre'el, Harod and Bet She'an valleys site factsheet
Israel Judean foothills site factsheet
Kazakhstan Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve site factsheet
Kazakhstan Kumdykol-Zharlykol Lake System site factsheet
Kazakhstan Lesser Aral Sea site factsheet
Kazakhstan Zhumay-Mayshukyr Lake System site factsheet
Kenya Lake Bogoria National Reserve site factsheet
Kenya Lake Elmenteita site factsheet
Kenya Lake Nakuru National Park site factsheet
Kyrgyzstan Eastern Issyk Kul Lake site factsheet
Kyrgyzstan Lake Chatyr-Kul site factsheet
Kyrgyzstan Tokmak Pheasant Reserve site factsheet
Kyrgyzstan Western Issyk Kul Lake site factsheet
Mongolia Sharga Lake site factsheet
Montenegro Lake Skadar site factsheet
Namibia Cape Cross lagoon site factsheet
Namibia Sperrgebiet site factsheet
Namibia Walvis Bay site factsheet
Pakistan Kirthar National Park (including Hub Dam) site factsheet
Romania Black Sea site factsheet
Romania Lake Techirghiol site factsheet
Russia (Asian) Argun' river site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Atyazh lakes site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Bol'shiye and Maliye Donki lakes site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Bol'shoy Sarykul' lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Bottomland of rivers Tobol near villages Lebedevka and Bygrovoe site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Bottomland of Tobol river near villages Lebedevka and Bygrovoe site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Bottomland the river Tobol between a mouth of the rivers Uja and Ubagan site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Butash and Gor'koye lakes site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Bykovo lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Chernoye Lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Chuburat Lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Inder' site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Krutali Lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Kuktybiz Lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Kurlady Lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Kurtan Lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Kurumbel'skaya steppe site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Lake system near Lotoshnoye village site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Lake Travykul site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Man'yass lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Mayan lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Peschanokoledinskaya site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Saltaim-Tenis lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Saltosarayskoye lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Schuch'ye lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Shchuch'ye lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Sibirskiye Lakes site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Stekleney Lake site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Tirikul' and Kadkul' lakes site factsheet
Russia (Central Asian) Uryadki Lake site factsheet
Russia (European) Delta of the River Don site factsheet
Saudi Arabia Gulf of Salwah site factsheet
South Africa Botriviervlei and Kleinmond estuary site factsheet
South Africa False Bay Park (proposed) site factsheet
South Africa Grassland Biosphere Reserve (proposed) site factsheet
South Africa Kamfers Dam site factsheet
South Africa Orange river mouth wetlands site factsheet
South Africa Wilderness - Sedgefield lakes complex site factsheet
Spain Mar Menor coastal lagoon site factsheet
Spain Mata and Torrevieja lagoons site factsheet
Spain Odiel and Tinto marshes and Huelva coastal lagoons site factsheet
Spain Salt-pans of Ibiza and Formentera and Freus isles site factsheet
Syria Bahrat Homs site factsheet
Tunisia Lake Tunis (Lake Radès) site factsheet
Tunisia Salines de Thyna site factsheet
Turkey Burdur Lake site factsheet
Turkey Erçek Lake site factsheet
Turkey Sodalıgöl (Arın Lake) site factsheet
Turkmenistan Ekerem - Esenguly site factsheet
Turkmenistan Garabogaz - Garshy site factsheet
Ukraine Fishponds near Kukil'nyky village site factsheet
Ukraine Kakhovs'ke reservoir (Energodar) site factsheet
Ukraine Kakhovs'ke reservoir (Vasylivka village) site factsheet
Ukraine Molochnyj Liman site factsheet
Ukraine Zalozhyntsi fish-ponds site factsheet
Uzbekistan Achinskoe Lake site factsheet
Uzbekistan Sudochye Lake site factsheet
Uzbekistan Tudakul and Kuymazar Reservoirs site factsheet
Uzbekistan Tuzkan Lake site factsheet

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Aquaculture Ponds suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Ponds (below 8ha) suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Wastewater Treatment Areas suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Water Storage Areas (over 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries major non-breeding
Marine Neritic Macroalgal/Kelp suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Seagrass (Submerged) suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy-Mud suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) major breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes major non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) major breeding
Altitude 0 - 2500 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Transportation & service corridors Utility & service lines Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals / Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Past Impact
Stresses
Species mortality
Human intrusions & disturbance Recreational activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / American Mink (Neovison vison) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Avian Botulism (Clostridium botulinum) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Avian Cholera (Pasturella multocida) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Unspecified bacteria (Erysipelas spp.) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Minority (<50%) Very Rapid Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Species mortality
Pollution Industrial & military effluents / Oil spills Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Minority (<50%) Very Rapid Declines Past Impact
Stresses
Species mortality
Climate change & severe weather Temperature extremes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Minority (<50%) Causing/Could cause fluct Past Impact
Stresses
Species mortality

Utilisation

Purpose Primary form used Life stage used Source Scale Level Timing
Food (human) Whole Adults and juveniles Wild Subsistence, National Non-trivial Recent
Food (human) Whole Eggs Wild Subsistence, National Non-trivial Recent
Pets Whole Adults and juveniles Wild International Non-trivial Recent
Sport Whole Adults and juveniles Wild Subsistence, National Non-trivial Recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Podiceps nigricollis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Least Concern
Family Podicipedidae (Grebes)
Species name author Brehm, 1831
Population size mature individuals
Population trend Unknown
Distribution size (breeding/resident) 9,250,000 km2
Country endemic? No
Links to further information
- Summary information on this species
- Climate change species distributions