- Podilymbus podiceps
Identification
L. 30-38cm, Ws. 59cm
Lacks a distinct wing-bar in flight
Adult breeding
- Dark gray-brown above
- Paler gray-brown, tinged rufous, on breast and flanks
- Belly and fluffy undertail coverts white
- Head and hindneck dark gray-brown or blackish
- Sides of head paler and tinged rufous
- Black chin and throat
- Short, thick bill
- White with black central band
- White with black central band
Adult non-breeding: similar to breeding adult but duller and browner, lacks black chin and bill-band
Juvenile: like non-breeding adult but has striped head.
Distribution
A widespread American grebe breeding almost throughout the USA and in south-central and south-eastern Canada. Further south breeds in Mexico and Central America, in the West Indies and in South America from Colombia and Venezuela south to southern Argentina.
Transatlantic vagrants are regularly recorded, most often in Britain and the Azores but also recorded in Iceland, France, Spain, the Canary Islands and east to Germany and Poland. Nest-building has taken place in France and hybridisation with Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) has occurred in Britain and Norway. Also recorded as a vagrant on the Galapagos Islands.
Northernmost birds are migratory and much of the eastern and central North American range is vacated in winter.
Taxonomy
Three subspecies recognised varying slightly in colour of upperparts, overall size, bill size and extent of bill-band and chin patch.
Nominate race occurs in North America and winters south to Panama and Cuba
antillarum breeds in the West Indies
antarcticus in South America.
Habitat
Breeds on shallow, well-vegetated freshwaters, in winter on larger and more open waters, sometimes estuaries but very rarely on the sea.
Behaviour
Shy and secretive particularly during the breeding season.
Flight
Compact shape and thick bill should identify this species at all seasons.
Diet
Its diet includes small fish, frogs and tadpoles and aquatic invertebrates.
Breeding
Breeding season varies with latitude, usually begins mid-May in northern parts of range, earlier further south. Breeds beside small-large freshwaters, nest is a heap of floating vegetation on edge of reedbeds or other marginal vegetation, sometimes on the bottom in shallow water. Eggs: 4-7 (rarely 2-10), whitish, tinged bluish or buff initially soon becoming stained (44 x 30mm). Incubated by both sexes but mainly female for 23-24 days. Young tended by both sexes. Single or double-brooded.
Vocalisation
Whinnying call during the breeding season ending with slower, gulping cow-cow-cow notes. Generally silent outside breeding season.
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