竹外桃花三两枝，春江水暖鸭先知。

When the peach blossom starts to bloom and the water turns warm, ducks are always the first to know that the spring has arrived.

冬去春来，在中国南方湖面上，偶尔能看到一种外形如鸭的水鸟，像精灵一般在碧波上游荡。

As winter softens into spring, a duck-shaped waterbird can be seen floating like an elf on the blue waves in southern China.

它看起来像鸭子，但并不是鸭子，而是来自䴙䴘科家族的黑颈䴙(pì)䴘(tī)。

It may look like a duck, but it's a black-necked Grebe from the family Gapidae.

它长得十分呆萌，不仅泳技超群，还是水上芭蕾舞者。

This cute-looking bird is not only a great swimmer but also an excellent water ballerina.

黑颈䴙䴘体形短圆，全身长满丝状的绒羽，脖颈呈黑色，头上嵌着一对红眼睛，宛如红宝石一般。由于外观短小圆润，在水上起起伏伏时就像一只“水葫芦”。

Covered in silky and velvety feathers, the grebe is short and rounded with a black neck and a pair of ruby red eyes on the head, just like a “water gourd” undulating on the water.

䴙䴘的体内存在着很多油脂，被人们称为“油鸭”，据说古时候人们会取用它体内的油脂，用来擦拭刀剑。

The black-necked Grebea is called "greasy duck" for that it has a lot of oil in its body. In ancient times, it is said that people would use its body oil to polish their swords.

不过，别看它体型小、腿又短，但它视力好，脚醭发达，是不折不扣的游泳健将。捕食时，它会突然一个欠身，“咚”地扎进水里，每次潜水时间可达30-50秒。等你再看到它时，它已经从另一处水域浮出，嘴上还衔着“战果”——一条刚被抓获的小鱼。由于翅膀短小，不易飞起，因此它们飞行时几乎贴着水面，看起来就像“凌波微步”。

However, despite its small size and short legs, it has good eyesight and well-developed feet, making it an extraordinary swimmer. When preying, it will suddenly bow and plunge into the water, with each diving time lasting for 30-50 seconds. When you see it again, it has already emerged from the other side of the water with a small fish it just caught. The short wings make it hard for them to take off, so they fly close to the surface of the water.

每年5月，黑颈鸊鷉开始繁殖，它们谈恋爱的场面更是浪漫。当雄鸟和雌鸟相遇时，会在水面上跳一段求偶舞蹈。它们面对面低头展翅，接着抬头仰脖，拍动双翅，再迅速向前。当快触碰时，又忽然停下慢慢后退，堪称一场优美的芭蕾舞蹈。如果通过舞蹈赢得了“芳心”，它们就衔着水草共筑爱巢。

The Black-necked Grebes start breeding every year in May and their lovemaking scene is more than romantic. When two of them meet, they face each other, bow their heads and spread their wings, then raise their heads, flap their wings, and dart forward. When close enough to touch, they stop and walk back slowly like the most graceful ballet dance.

据说䴙䴘还是一种忠诚鸟，从相逢到相识、相爱，它们彼此独守，永不他恋。

They are loyal birds that fall for only one bird in a lifetime.