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2

Hoary-headed Grebe

(Poliocephalus poliocephalus)
Alternate name(s): "Tom Pudding", "Dabchick*"
Aboriginal name(s): "kumkurnmitj" [tjapwurrung], "kuRanuRa" [eastern djadjawurrung];
"wyooda", "booradjin" (WA)

Size: 29-30 cm
Weight: 175-305 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 Hoary-headed Grebe at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

BREEDING

PAIR

Lateral view of a pair of Hoary-headed Grebes in breeding plumage; on the bird to the right one can see very clearly the diagnostic dark nape streak, which distinguishes this species, especially when seen while in non-breeding plumage, from Australasian Grebes in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Dangar's Lagoon, Uralla, NSW, February 2013]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage shaking itself dry
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, May 2022]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Fairy, VIC, April 2022]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2021]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2021]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage, right, with another moulting into eclipse plumage
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, March 2023]

Dorsal view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2020]

Dorsal view of Hoary-headed Grebes in breeding plumage
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, July 2016]

Frontal comparison of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage, right, with a first-year Great Crested Grebe
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, March 2023]

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

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

NON-BREEDING

Close-up frontal view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, May 2013]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in non-breeding plumage, with its crown puffed up (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Glen Iris wetlands, Melbourne, VIC, May 2013]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in non-breeding plumage, with a slick crown; the bird's large bill may indicate that it is a male (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, May 2013]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in non-breeding plumage
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, March 2023]

Dorsal view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in non-breeding plumage, with a clear view onto the characteristic dark nape streak (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Centennial Park, Sydney, NSW, May 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of an Hoary-headed Grebe; without any grey feathers visible around the eye, this may still be a juvenile
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, January 2016]

Lateral view of a young Hoary-headed Grebe chick
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe with a young chick
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2022]

Behaviour

Like other species of grebes, Hoary-headed Grebes perform elaborate courtship rituals.

Pair of Hoary-headed Grebes approaching each other; from here on in it's all about a song and dance...
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Parallel alignment... (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

... followed by anti-parallel ... (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Hoary-headed Grebes facing each other (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Hoary-headed Grebe flapping its wings, possibly in a display meant to impress (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, November 2022]

Food, Diet

Hoary-headed Grebes usually dive to catch their prey, such as small aquatic creatures, including crustaceans but also insects.

Hoary-headed 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]

Hoary-headed Grebes in breeding, non-breeding and sub-adult plumages waiting for that human to leave the lake shore to get to their prey that is hiding among reeds
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, March 2023]

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.

hhgrebe_20200813_2.m4a (NW NSW) Contact call? © MD
hhgrebe_vc_20220130.m4a (NW NSW) Warning calls & contact call? (+ Australian Magpie) © VC
hhgrebe_20200813.m4a (NW NSW) ? © MD

More Hoary-headed 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.

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