The red-necked grebe has a bit of a split personality—in fact, it only lives up to its name about half the year. Its feathers are not red but brambly brown and gray throughout the winter, when it lives a low-key, quiet life in salt water along North American and European coasts. But just before it migrates to a northerly lake, pond, or swamp for breeding season, the plumage around the grebe"s throat turns a distinctive rust-red. Both males and females undergo the plumage change.
Red-necked grebes during breeding season
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy
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Arctic fox in Norway
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Happy 300th, NOLA!
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Busy building wetlands
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International Day for Biological Diversity
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Christmas comes to New York City
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International Rock Day
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Construction workers resting above Manhattan
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Songkran—Thai New Year
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The call of the wild in Alaska
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Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
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Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
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They’re grrrape!
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Here there be dragons
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Poppies for Armistice Day
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Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
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Autumn equinox
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National Napping Day
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National Napping Day
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A glimpse of the Blue Forest
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National Take a Hike Day
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Space-age style by the sea
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Dusky eagle-owls, Pakistan
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Making it work—in Norway
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The Big Blue of the Sierra
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A step toward freedom
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Meet our fuzzy Earth Day mascot
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Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany
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Bow Bridge in Central Park, New York City
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World Reef Awareness Day
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

