90 BRITISH BIRDS 



and neck are reddish-brown, the back dark brown, waved 

 with grey, and the under parts grey with lighter markings. 



The Red-necked Grebe. 



A rare winter visitor. It is a handsome bird about 18 

 inches in length and 19 or 20 ounces in weight. It is 

 more a marine than an inland species. The head, which 

 is ornamented with a flattish crest, is black, but the face is 

 bluish grey, the back dark brown with a light edging to 

 each feather, the breast rufous brown, the belly and a 

 patch on the wing white, the beak yellow at the base 

 and black at the end. 



The wings are very short, yet the Red-necked Grebe flies 

 well and executes long journeys by sea and land. It is 

 fairly common in Scotland during the winter. The food 

 consists of fish and marine insects which they obtain by 

 diving and swimming under water. The colours of the 

 female are duller than those of the male. The young have 

 the throat a dirty white, and the back is lighter coloured than 

 that of the adult. 



THE GREENFINCH. See under Finches. 



THE GREEN LINNET. See Greenfinch (under 

 Finches). 



THE GREEN PLOVER. See Plover (Golden). 



THE GREEN WOODPECKER. See under Wood- 

 peckers. 



