Australasian Grebe
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae(3 photos)
Locations:
Australasian Grebe
23-26 cm. Breeding Plumage: head/neck black with chestnut stripe; oval yellow facial mark; eye yellow; flanks pale chestnut. Winter adult: duller. Juvenile: striped. Immature and first winter: grey-brown above, border between brown crown and whitish cheeks passes through eye. Lacks dark nape-stripe; breast less creamy white; flanks warmer rufous than Hoary-headed Grebe. Territorial pairs, family parties, small autumn-winter companies. Dives often; feeds on surface and in shallows. Startled, dives rather than flies. Nestlings ride under parents' wings, even when they dive.
- Other name
- Little Grebe.
- Similar Species
- Little Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe.
- Voice
- clear, far-carrying chitter; alarm call, sharp 'tik!'.
- Habitat
- still, shallow fresh waters generally; farm dams; freshwater wetlands with plentiful water plants; sewage ponds; in autumn-winter in s. Aust., with Hoary-headeds on larger open waters; occasionally on sheltered bays.
- Breeding
- Aug.-Dec.
- Nest
- damp, floating, anchored mound of green water plants.
- Eggs
- 4-6; bluish white, limy, soon stained brown.
- Range & Status
- Aust. and Tas.: widespread, common e. and sw. Aust.; irregular inland; uncommon, common tropical n. Aust. and Tas. Sedentary, nomadic; possible n. movement in winter from s. Aust. Also Indonesia, PNG, New Heb., New Cal.; related forms in Eurasia. Recently colonised NZ.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Tachybaptus novaehollandiae novaehollandiae
