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Tachybaptus ruficollis

Little grebe

Prachtkleid (CC BY-SA 2.5) Andreas Trepte

Short Description

On the water, little grebe is reminiscent of a duck and because of its size is often confused with a chick. A typical feature is the pale-yellow spot at the base of the bill. In the breeding season (nuptial plumage), the plumage is black with chestnut-brown neck and ear-coverts. Outside of the breeding season (basic plumage), it is light-brown.

Nestlings are initially black-brown with silvery-white down on their foreheads. As they grow older, their plumage turns grey-brown to pale-brown with rust-red and white longitudinal stripes.

Features

Little grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

  • neck and ear-coverts in contrasting colours

  • pale-yellow spot at the base of the bill

Trillern von zumindest drei Zwergtauchern

Frommolt, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Similar species

Black-necked grebe

Podiceps nigricollis
Black-necked grebes are larger than little grebes. Their necks are completely black and they have elongated red-brown or yellow ear tufts. Their flanks are a more vibrant red-brown. Their iris is red.

Horned grebe

Podiceps auritus
Horned grebes are larger than little grebes. The black ear-coverts are elongated and the yellow feathers of the eye stripes erect like ear tufts. Their throats and flanks are a vibrant red-brown. Their iris is red.
Jungtier (CC BY-SA 3.0) Kristof vt

In the city

The natural habitat of the little grebe is particularly endangered through the draining of swamps and river meadows as well as through human interference by fishing, water sports and bathing.

Because of its minute size, the little grebe is not immediately spotted. But its loud warbling call during the mating season is characteristic.

Fun Facts

  • Little grebes can dive up to a depth of one metre.

  • hey feed on small fish, crustaceans, molluscs and insects that are caught in short dives. Occasionally, they also eat water plants.

  • Little grebes are migratory birds; from October to March, they fly south to ice-free waters. In mild and ice-free winters, they remain on site as resident birds.

  • Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Schlichtkleid (CC BY-SA 2.5) Andreas Trepte

Sources

Prachtkleid, Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_grebe_Zwergtaucher.jpg

Jungtier, Kristof vt, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Grebe_chick_700.jpg

Schlichtkleid, Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5, http://photo-natur.de/licence.html

Witt, K. & Steiof, K. (2013) Rote Liste und Liste der Brutvögel von Berlin, 3. version, 15.11.2013. : Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V. (eds.) Berliner Ornithologischer Bericht, volume 23, Berlin: Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V., 1-23.

Page „Zwergtaucher“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 05.01.2016, 09:41 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zwergtaucher&oldid=149811638 (Accessed: 18.02.2016).

Artenfinder (2016) Tachybaptus ruficollis (Zwergtaucher), URL: https://arteninfo.net/elearning/voegel/speciesportrait/2812 (Accessed: 23.04.2016).