Australasian Grebe

Australasian Grebe
Breeding plumage
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Podicipediformes
Family:	Podicipedidae
Genus:	Tachybaptus
Species:	T. novaehollandiae
Binomial name
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Stephens, 1826
Distribution of the Australasian Grebe with subspecies separated with lines

The Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) is a tiny waterbird common on fresh water lakes and rivers in greater Australia, New Zealand and on nearby Pacific islands. At 25-27 cm in length, it is one of the smallest members of the grebe family. (See also Little Grebe, Least Grebe.)

It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and usually dives immediately when alarmed and swims away under water.

Identification

Breeding plumage

Both sexes are dark brown above with a glossy-black head and neck and a striking chestnut facial stripe, extending from behind the eye to the base of the neck. The eye is yellow, with a prominent pale yellow face spot below.

Non-breeding

Both are generally duller, with no chestnut stripe, the face spot whiter, and throat and front grey-white. Similar to non-breeding Hoary-headed Grebes, which share a similar range.

Gallery

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  Breeding adult with chicks

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  Adult covering eggs in floating nest

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  Juvenile

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  Nest building

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  Adult with juvenile

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Tachybaptus novaehollandiae. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 23 June 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List
• Australian Museum fact sheet
• Video at the Internet Bird Collection
• A pictorial essay of nesting grebes