- Poliocephalus poliocephalus
Photo by Tom Tarrant
Identification
L. 29-31cm
Adult Breeding
- Brownish-grey above
- Whitish below
- Grey upper breast
- Brownish-grey flanks
- Grey-brown forehead darkening towards black hindcrown and nape
- Whitish streaks over head and cheeks give hoary appearance
- Black chin
- Usually pale yellowish-white iris
- Black bill with white tip
- Olive-green legs
Adult Non-breeding
G-enerally duller and greyer, streaking on head much reduced but dark cap retained
Juvenile
Similar to non-breeding adult but with indistinctly striped face.
Flight
Broad white trailing edge to secondaries on upperwing which continues across most of the primaries.
Distribution
Southern half of Australia and Tasmania.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.[1]
Habitat
Lakes, reservoirs and large swamps.
Behaviour
Breeding
Breeds November-January or after rains. Nest is a floating heap of vegetation Eggs: 3-6, greenish-white to pale blue initially.
Diet
Includes small fish and aquatic invertebrates.
References
- Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
