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Difference between revisions of "Great Grebe" - BirdForum Opus

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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Length 61cm. The largest and longest-necked grebe in [[South America]]. '''Adult breeding:''' blackish-brown with green gloss above, browner on wings. Upper breast and flanks chestnut, remainder of underparts white. Crown and hindneck blackish with green gloss, short tufted crest on nape, ear-coverts, lores, chin and throat grey, sides of neck and foreneck chestnut. Bill black, legs blackish-grey.  '''Adult non-breeding:''' as adult breeding but greyer above, flanks duller and underparts whiter. Crown duller and cheeks whiter giving a more distinctly capped effect.  '''Juvenile:''' as non-breeding aduly but duller and browner and face and neck with indistinct stripes.  '''Flight:''' wings dark above with broad white trailing edge to secondaries, underwing coverts white. Large size, dagger-like bill and long neck identify this species at all seasons.
+
L. 61cm.<br/>
 +
 
 +
*Large
 +
*Dagger-like bill
 +
*Long neck  
 +
====Adult breeding====
 +
*Blackish-brown with green gloss above
 +
*Browner on wings
 +
*Upper breast and flanks chestnut
 +
*White underparts
 +
*Short tufted crest on nape
 +
*Grey ear coverts, lores, chin, and throat
 +
*Chestnut sides of neck and foreneck
 +
*Black bill
 +
*Blackish-grey legs
 +
 
 +
====Adult Non-breeding====
 +
Similar to adult breeding
 +
*Greyer above
 +
*Duller flanks
 +
*Whiter underparts
 +
*Duller crown
 +
*Whiter cheeks giving a more distinctly capped effect
 +
 
 +
====Juvenile====
 +
Similar to Non-breeding but duller and browner and face and neck with indistinct stripes.   
 +
 
 +
===Flight===
 +
*Wings dark above
 +
*Broad white trailing edge to secondaries
 +
*White underwing coverts
 +
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Southern [[South America]] from Rio Grande do Sul, [[Brazil]] south to [[Tierra del Fuego]] and north on the Pacific coast to Coquimba, [[Chile]] and again from Pisco north to Piura, [[Peru]]. Vagrant to the [[Falkland Islands]]. There are two old records from Spain but these are extremely unlikely to involve genuine vagrants. Common in Patagonia.
 
Southern [[South America]] from Rio Grande do Sul, [[Brazil]] south to [[Tierra del Fuego]] and north on the Pacific coast to Coquimba, [[Chile]] and again from Pisco north to Piura, [[Peru]]. Vagrant to the [[Falkland Islands]]. There are two old records from Spain but these are extremely unlikely to involve genuine vagrants. Common in Patagonia.
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Species: ''P. major''
 
Species: ''P. major''
  
SubspeciesNo subspecies usually recognised but southernmost birds are sometimes separated as ''P. m. navasi''.
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====Subspecies====
 +
No subspecies usually recognised but southernmost birds are sometimes separated as ''P. m. navasi''.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Lowland lakes and rivers moving to coastal lagoons and estuaries after breeding.
 
Lowland lakes and rivers moving to coastal lagoons and estuaries after breeding.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
+
==Discussion==
 +
The largest and longest-necked grebe in [[South America]].
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Podiceps+major}}  
 
{{GSearch|Podiceps+major}}  
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Incomplete]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Incomplete]]

Revision as of 15:03, 29 January 2008

Podiceps major
Photo by arthurgrosset
Location: Taim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Identification

L. 61cm.

  • Large
  • Dagger-like bill
  • Long neck

Adult breeding

  • Blackish-brown with green gloss above
  • Browner on wings
  • Upper breast and flanks chestnut
  • White underparts
  • Short tufted crest on nape
  • Grey ear coverts, lores, chin, and throat
  • Chestnut sides of neck and foreneck
  • Black bill
  • Blackish-grey legs

Adult Non-breeding

Similar to adult breeding

  • Greyer above
  • Duller flanks
  • Whiter underparts
  • Duller crown
  • Whiter cheeks giving a more distinctly capped effect

Juvenile

Similar to Non-breeding but duller and browner and face and neck with indistinct stripes.

Flight

  • Wings dark above
  • Broad white trailing edge to secondaries
  • White underwing coverts

Distribution

Southern South America from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil south to Tierra del Fuego and north on the Pacific coast to Coquimba, Chile and again from Pisco north to Piura, Peru. Vagrant to the Falkland Islands. There are two old records from Spain but these are extremely unlikely to involve genuine vagrants. Common in Patagonia.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Podicipediformes
Family: Podicipedidae
Genus: Podiceps
Species: P. major

Subspecies

No subspecies usually recognised but southernmost birds are sometimes separated as P. m. navasi.

Habitat

Lowland lakes and rivers moving to coastal lagoons and estuaries after breeding.

Behaviour

Discussion

The largest and longest-necked grebe in South America.

External Links

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