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Difference between revisions of "Little Grebe" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Little_Grebe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Nigel+Pye|Nigel Pye}}<br />[[Cley]], [[Norfolk]], 5 May 2006]]
 
[[Image:Little_Grebe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Nigel+Pye|Nigel Pye}}<br />[[Cley]], [[Norfolk]], 5 May 2006]]
 
;[[:Category:Tachybaptus|Tachybaptus]] ruficollis
 
;[[:Category:Tachybaptus|Tachybaptus]] ruficollis
 +
'''Includes: Tricoloured Grebe'''
  
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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<!--- Comment to editors: The images by Alok were uploaded as ''capensis'', however, that subspecies has been split and they belong to the part that became ''albescens'' --->
 
<!--- Comment to editors: The images by Alok were uploaded as ''capensis'', however, that subspecies has been split and they belong to the part that became ''albescens'' --->
 
25–29 cm (9¾-11½ in)   
 
25–29 cm (9¾-11½ in)   
*Dark greyish-brown above
+
*upperparts dark greyish-brown
*Paler below with tawny flanks
+
*underparts paler, greyer
*Blackish crown and hindneck
+
*flanks tawny
*Chestnut throat, ear-[[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]], and sides and front of neck
+
*crown and hindneck blackish
*Black bill with white tip
+
*throat, ear-[[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]], and sides and front of neck chestnut
*Yellow gape patch
+
*bill black with white tip
*Olive-green legs
+
*gape patch yellow
 +
*legs olive-green
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Common and widespread in the Old World.<br />
+
Common and widespread in the Old World.
 +
 
 
'''Breeds''' widely across [[Europe]] from [[Iberia]], the [[British Isles]] and southern [[Scandinavia]] eastwards including parts of [[Turkey]] and the [[Middle East]]. Breeds across southern [[Asia]] including much of [[India]] and [[Indochina]] to [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]. Has a scattered distribution in the [[Philippines]], [[Indonesia]] (rare breeder on [[Java]] and [[Bali]]) and [[New Guinea]]. In [[Africa]] breeds across the north-west and in the Nile Delta and widespread south of the Sahara absent only from the driest or most heavily forested areas.
 
'''Breeds''' widely across [[Europe]] from [[Iberia]], the [[British Isles]] and southern [[Scandinavia]] eastwards including parts of [[Turkey]] and the [[Middle East]]. Breeds across southern [[Asia]] including much of [[India]] and [[Indochina]] to [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]. Has a scattered distribution in the [[Philippines]], [[Indonesia]] (rare breeder on [[Java]] and [[Bali]]) and [[New Guinea]]. In [[Africa]] breeds across the north-west and in the Nile Delta and widespread south of the Sahara absent only from the driest or most heavily forested areas.
  
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==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
Subspecies ''collaris'', ''tricolor'' and ''vulcanorum'' may be split as "Tricolored Grebe", ''Tachybaptus tricolor''.
 
[[Image:41949707225 03086c4660 c.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Sub-adult, subspecies ''poggei''<br />Photo by {{user|SeeToh|SeeToh}}<br />Lorong Halus, [[Singapore]], 17 June 2018]]<!-- Editors note:  this image not in gallery-->
 
[[Image:41949707225 03086c4660 c.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Sub-adult, subspecies ''poggei''<br />Photo by {{user|SeeToh|SeeToh}}<br />Lorong Halus, [[Singapore]], 17 June 2018]]<!-- Editors note:  this image not in gallery-->
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
About ten subspecies recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
+
Clements recognises the following subspecies [[#References|[1]]]:
*''ruficollis'' occurs in [[Europe]] east to the Ural Mountains, wintering south to [[Egypt]]; also breeds northwest [[Africa]] from Western Sahara east to Tunisia, populations in Libya and the Nile Delta not assigned to subspecies
+
*''ruficollis'': [[Europe]] east to the Ural Mountains, wintering south to [[Egypt]]; also breeds northwest [[Africa]] from Western Sahara east to Tunisia
*''iraquensis'' (with indistinct white wing-bar) in [[Iraq]] and south-west [[Iran]],
+
*''iraquensis'': [[Iraq]] and south-west [[Iran]]. [indistinct white wing-bar]
*''capensis'' (larger with more white in wing) [[Africa]], primarily south of the Sahara but breeding north to [[Egypt]] in the east; also the [[Comoros]] and [[Madagascar]]
+
*''capensis'': [[Africa]], primarily south of the Sahara but breeding north to [[Egypt]] in the east; also the [[Comoros]] and [[Madagascar]]. [larger with more white in wing]
*''albescens'' (with yellow/orange eyes) from Caucasus east to eastern [[Kazakhstan]], south to [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Myanmar]],
+
*''albescens'': from Caucasus east to eastern [[Kazakhstan]], south to [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Myanmar]]. [yellow/orange eyes]
*''poggei'' in [[Japan]], [[China]], [[Taiwan]] to [[Malaysia]],
+
*''poggei'': [[Japan]], [[China]], [[Taiwan]] to [[Malaysia]]
*''philippensis'' on northern part of the [[Philippines]],
+
*''philippensis'': northern part of the [[Philippines]]
*''cotabato'' on Mindanao,
+
*''cotabato'': Mindanao,
*''vulcanorum'' on islands from [[Java]] to [[Timor]] and the [[Kai Islands]] and
+
*''vulcanorum'': '''Tricoloured Grebe'''". Islands from [[Java]] to [[Timor]] and the [[Kai Islands]]
*''tricolor'' in [[Sulawesi]], the [[Moluccas]] and northern [[New Guinea|New Guinea Islands]],
+
*''tricolor'': "'''Tricoloured Grebe'''". [[Sulawesi]], the [[Moluccas]] and northern [[New Guinea|New Guinea Islands]]
*''collaris'' in northeast [[New Guinea]] to Bougainville ([[Solomon Islands]])
+
*''collaris'': '''Tricoloured Grebe'''". Northeast [[New Guinea]] to Bougainville ([[Solomon Islands]])
The last three subspecies have been proposed as a split called Tricolored Grebe, ''Tachybaptus tricolor''.
+
Populations in Libya and the Nile Delta not assigned to subspecies
 +
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
[[Image:DSCN2294 2 .JPG|thumb|350px|right|Adult ''T. r. albescens''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, [[India]], 23 August 2016]]
 
[[Image:DSCN2294 2 .JPG|thumb|350px|right|Adult ''T. r. albescens''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, [[India]], 23 August 2016]]
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{{ Audio|Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3 }}
 
{{ Audio|Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3 }}
 
''[[Media:Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3|Little Grebe voice clip]]''<br />
 
''[[Media:Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3|Little Grebe voice clip]]''<br />
<br />
+
 
 
{{ Audio|Little_grebe.mp3 }}
 
{{ Audio|Little_grebe.mp3 }}
 
''[[Media: Little_grebe.mp3|Little Grebe voice clip]]''<br />
 
''[[Media: Little_grebe.mp3|Little Grebe voice clip]]''<br />
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|"Tachybaptus ruficollis" {{!}} "Little Grebe"}}
 
{{GSearch|"Tachybaptus ruficollis" {{!}} "Little Grebe"}}
<br />
 
 
{{VSearch|"Tachybaptus ruficollis" {{!}} "Little Grebe"}}
 
{{VSearch|"Tachybaptus ruficollis" {{!}} "Little Grebe"}}
 
{{GS-checked}}
 
{{GS-checked}}
<br />
 
<br />
 
 
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Tachybaptus]][[Category:Bird Songs]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Tachybaptus]][[Category:Bird Songs]]

Latest revision as of 13:44, 24 August 2023

Nominate subspecies
Photo © by Nigel Pye
Cley, Norfolk, 5 May 2006
Tachybaptus ruficollis

Includes: Tricoloured Grebe

Identification

Chick T. r. albescens
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Protected Water-body, Delhi, India, 16 August 2012

25–29 cm (9¾-11½ in)

  • upperparts dark greyish-brown
  • underparts paler, greyer
  • flanks tawny
  • crown and hindneck blackish
  • throat, ear-coverts, and sides and front of neck chestnut
  • bill black with white tip
  • gape patch yellow
  • legs olive-green

Distribution

Common and widespread in the Old World.

Breeds widely across Europe from Iberia, the British Isles and southern Scandinavia eastwards including parts of Turkey and the Middle East. Breeds across southern Asia including much of India and Indochina to China, Korea and Japan. Has a scattered distribution in the Philippines, Indonesia (rare breeder on Java and Bali) and New Guinea. In Africa breeds across the north-west and in the Nile Delta and widespread south of the Sahara absent only from the driest or most heavily forested areas.

Vagrants recorded on the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands. Mainly resident with northernmost populations migratory or dispersive.

Taxonomy

Subspecies collaris, tricolor and vulcanorum may be split as "Tricolored Grebe", Tachybaptus tricolor.

Sub-adult, subspecies poggei
Photo by SeeToh
Lorong Halus, Singapore, 17 June 2018

Subspecies

Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:

Populations in Libya and the Nile Delta not assigned to subspecies

Habitat

Adult T. r. albescens
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, India, 23 August 2016

Well-vegetated ponds and lakes, mainly in lowland areas.

Behaviour

Diet

Diet includes small fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Breeding

Its nest is a heap of vegetation in reed beds or other marginal vegetation. 4-6 whitish initially soon becoming stained eggs are laid and are incubated by both sexes for 19-25 days.

Vocalisation

Nominate subspecies
Photo by luca26
Adda River, Lombardia, Italy, 6 May 2018

whit-whit and in breeding season utters a whinnying trill, sometimes in duet. Little Grebe voice clip

Little Grebe voice clip
Recording © by Alok Tewari
Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, India, 23 August 2016
Alarm call given by parent feeding chicks, on perceiving danger.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2) DRAFT. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
  3. Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Little Grebe
  4. Brazil, M.A. (1991) The Birds of Japan. Smithsonian Inst. Press.
  5. Llimona, F., del Hoyo, J., Christie, D.A., Jutglar, F., Garcia, E.F.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52477 on 1 April 2019).

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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