Aggressive In Breeding Season-The Red-Necked Grebe

In a small lake in northern Edmonton there are a few pair of red-necked grebes and you know there is going to be trouble when one couple comes closer to another. One bird will attack the other male and they will have quite vicious fights while the apparent females watch. Very noisy and very spectacular. Interestingly, the couple will go right back to their mating displays which is quite beautiful, as their crests and their facial discs raise up but without the wing-raising or extreme biting.

First is a scenario of a fight as one couple gets into another couple’s territory, at least this is my interpretation. Please feel free to correct me.Here is a couple with another single separating from his mate to challenge the territory.

The boys go at it while the females are very vocal as well, watching from the sidelines.They don’t just raise their wings, but bite each other.

It happens off and on, then the couple goes right back to displaying amorously.

It was gripping action to say the least and I was happy that my camera was on fast shutter setting and I was on a hill just above them so got these great shots. There were times one would have hold of the other’s neck and drag it under the water and I was wondering if they were breeding, but no it was a fight.