From Opus

Tachybaptus dominicus

Photo by bobsofpa
Photographed: Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Texas, USA.

[edit] Identification

Sometimes called Short-billed Grebe.

L. 23-26cm.

• Dark brownish-grey
• Greenish gloss above
• Buffy breast and flanks with heavy dark barring
• White belly and undertail
• Slay-trey head and neck
• Black throat, chin, and crown
• Yellow to orange iris
• Black bill with small white tip
• Brownish-olive legs

[edit] Distribution

United States, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and southern Brazil

[edit] Taxonomy

Four-six subspecies recognised. Race brachypterus occurs from Texas to Panama, bangsi in southern Baja California, nominate race in the Caribbean and brachyrhynchus in South America. Birds from Trinidad and Colombia are sometimes separated as speciosus and those from west Ecuador as eisenmanni.

[edit] Habitat

Freshwater ponds, slow-flowing rivers and swamps.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

The nest is a heap of rotting vegetation anchored to submerged plants in reedbeds or other marginal vegetation. 4-6 white eggs are laid and are incubated by both sexes for 21 days. Young tended by both sexes. Double-brooded, possibly treble-brooded at times.

[edit] Diet

Includes small fish and aquatic invertebrates.

[edit] External Links