Aust birds    Bird names   News   1-26    Habitats    Key plants    Glossary    Plumage    Nests    Tips    Thumbnails    Gen. info    Sponsors    Photos for sale   
NON-PASSERINES     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10     11     12     13     14 15     16     17     18     19     20     21     22     23     24     25     26     PASSERINES
Common names sorted alphabetically: A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   W   Y  

2

Australasian Grebe

(Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
Alternate name(s): "Little Grebe", "Black-throated Grebe",
"Red-necked Grebe", "Dabchick*", "White-bellied Diver"
Aboriginal name(s): "man.garginy" [western bundjalung]; "kumkurnmitj" [tjapwurrung], "kuRanuRa" [eastern djadjawurrung]; "ngoonan" (WA)

Size: 23-25 cm
Weight: 170-270 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Australasian Grebe at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "novaehollandiae"

ADULT

BREEDING

PAIR

Close-up frontal view of a pair of Australasian Grebes in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, March 2023]

Close-up near-lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Close-up near-lateral view of an Australasian Grebe (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2015]

Close-up near-lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, May 2013]

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, September 2022]

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whites Hill Reserve, Brisbane, QLD, February 2019]

Lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, April 2021]

Lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]

Lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, July 2017]

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2014]

Near-dorsal view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sherwood Arboretum, Brisbane, QLD, June 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a preening Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2010]

Dorsal view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, March 2023]

Australasian Grebe, behind, with a juvenile bird, in front
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2009]

Dorsal view of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage, left, and a Hoary-headed Grebe on the right
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Monger, Perth, WA, May 2021]

Group photo of several species of water birds - a pair of Australian Wood Ducks (centre), Grey Teals (left and right) and Australasian Grebes (the two smaller birds)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2007]

Group photo of several species of water birds - a pair of Australian Wood Ducks (far left), a family of Grey Teals (centre) and a pair of Australasian Grebes (front)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2007]

NON-BREEDING

PAIR

Dorsal view of a pair of Australasian Grebes in non-breeding plumage, both looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Marmor, QLD, August 2023]

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, May 2022]

Frontal view of a fierce-looking Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga NP, NSW, May 2021]

Frontal view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage flapping its wings (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2016]

Frontal view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage after a dive
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2012]

Close-up near-frontal view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kingsford Smith Memorial Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2023]

Close-up near-lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kingsford Smith Memorial Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2023]

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kingsford Smith Memorial Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2023]

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, May 2022]

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, May 2022]

Close-up lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, May 2023]

Lateral view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage resurfacing aver a dive
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

Near-dorsal view of an Australasian Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga NP, NSW, May 2021]

Lateral comparison of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage with Hoary-headed Grebes in (near-)breeding plumage
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, March 2023]

Something one does not often get to see - Australasian Grebe in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Lateral view of two Austalasian Grebes in non-breeding plumage in comparison with a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, November 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Australasian Grebe
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, January 2022]

Lateral view of a juvenile Australasian Grebe
[50 km S of Mungindi, NSW, January 2023]

Lateral view of an Australasian Grebe chick
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, December 2010]

Lateral view of two Australasian Grebe chicks
[Near Maules Creek, NSW, March 2009]

Near-dorsal view of an Australasian Grebe chick on a small farm dam
[Near Edgeroi, NSW, December 2016]

Here a precocial Australasian Grebe chick seen with one of its parents
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2012]

Near-lateral view of an Australian Grebe with its chicks riding "piggy back" (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[20 km West of Gilgandra, NSW, October 2020]

Near-lateral view of an Australian Grebe with its chicks riding "piggy back" (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[20 km West of Gilgandra, NSW, October 2020]

In January 2021, after exceptionally good rainfall in the area, we found this single family of Australasian Grebes on an old farm dam with 6 chicks out of one clutch, PLUS 3 unhatched eggs left in the nest (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, January 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Jan Eggs: 4 - 5 Incubation period: 21 - 24 days Fledging age: 42 - 49 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Australasian Grebes breed Dec - Apr. Also in other areas the breeding season may extend into autumn. At Eulah Creek a pair was observed raising three chicks that hatched in March 2013.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket Material: Aquatic plants Height above ground: N/A

Nests usually are floating platforms on water surface, anchored to reeds.

Australasian Grebe building its nest in the middle of a small pond

Australasian Grebe on its nest (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Botanic Gardens, Gold Coast, QLD, September 2017]

Quick-quick-quick, cover the eggs, there's somebody coming! Australasian Grebe leaving its nest in a hurry
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2017]

Australasian Grebe nest with the eggs covered
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2017]

Australasian Grebe nest on a small farm dam when it was full for the first time in 10 years; note how the nest has a flat top - the reeds are covering eggs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2011]

The same Australasian Grebe nest about 2 weeks later; now it has the form of a crater, because the eggs have hatched...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2012]

... and this little Australasian Grebe chick has emerged
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2012]

This is not a nest yet, but a base upon which a nest can later be built
[Narrabri, NSW, November 2017]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 36 x 25 mm Colour: Light-brown to dark-brown Shape: Tapered oval

Due to their absorbent surface, eggs darken significantly during incubation.

In January 2021, after exceptionally good rainfall in the area, we found a single family of Australasian Grebes on an old farm dam with 6 chicks out of one clutch, PLUS these 3 unhatched eggs left in the nest
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, January 2021]

3 eggs in a very low-lying Australasian Grebe nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

By lifting the "lid" of an Australasian Grebe nest one can see the eggs, here a clutch of 4 (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Courtship display of an Australasian Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, October 2017]

Even on small water surfaces with basically no cover Australasian Grebes can be very hard to spot.

Australasian Grebe watching the birdwatcher (click on image for wider overview)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2019]

Outside the breeding season Australasian Grebes can be observed in large groups.

Part of a group of about 100 Australasian Grebes in breeding, non-breeding and immature plumages
[Split Rock Dam, NSW, May 2013]

Australasian Grebes can re-surface after a dive with only the head showing above water - this way they are very hard to spot when caught out on open water without vegetation for protective cover
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2013]

Watching these Australasian Grebes one could get the impression that the adult bird was teaching the chicks how to dive
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2011]

Food, Diet

Australasian Grebes usually dive to catch their prey, such as small aquatic creatures including crustaceans, up to several metres under water. We have also seen them take insects at the water surface.

This Australasian Grebe has caught a fair-sized fish
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2012]

Australasian Grebe chasing Gerridae water bugs; it was observed not skimming the water surface, but snapping at individual insects at speed
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2015]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

ausgrebe_20200316.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Contact call? Q&A
(+ Grey Shrike-thrush)
© MD
ausgrebe_20200120.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Territorial call? © MD
ausgrebe_20200120_3.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Territorial call? © MD
ausgrebe_20190929.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Warning call © MD
ausgrebe_20210717.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Warning calls (humans) © MD
ausgrebe_20210110_2.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Warning calls (parents + chicks) © MD
ausgrebe_20210110_3.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Warning calls (parents + chicks) © MD
ausgrebe_20210110.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Warning calls (chicks + parents) © MD
ausgrebe_20210327.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Interacting © MD
ausgrebe_20220504.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
Squabbling © MD
ausgrebe_20200120_2.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
? © MD
ausgrebe_20210908.m4a novaehollandiae
(NW NSW)
? (at night) © MD

More Australasian Grebe sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.