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Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) Alternate name(s): "Tom Pudding", "Dabchick*" Aboriginal name(s): "wyooda", "booradjin" (WA) Size: 29-30 cm Weight: 175-305 g

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Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Hoary-headed Grebes are one of two small species of grebes in Australia. Their non-breeding plumage is dark brown-grey on the back nape of the neck and cap, near-white on the front of the neck, with a creamy-buff breast and near-white underparts. During the breeding season they grow black and white plumes covering most of the head, except a black stripe covering the length of the cap and the nape of the neck. Most of the bill, which in the non-breeding season is greyish, turns black in the breeding season, except for a cream-coloured tip. The eyes are pale, the legs and feet dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Hoary-headed Grebe at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Hoary-headed Grebe is available HERE . Hoary-headed Grebes are endemic to Australia. They can be found basically anywhere on the Australian continent, including Tasmania, wherever there is surface water. They are only rarely found in the far tropical north of the continent and in the major deserts of western WA and the eastern parts of the NT and SA. Hoary-headed Grebes mostly live in swamps and marshes around freshwater lakes and ponds, but also in estuaries. Although in principle also present in the arid centre, they will stay there only if/when there is reliable surface water, e.g. in permanent waterholes in rivers, creeks or on farm dams.

Sightings Click here for sighting information A Hoary-headed Grebe was first seen by us on a farm dam near Watson's Creek, NSW, North of Tamworth, in July 2009. Although, according to field guides, at least as common as Australasian Grebes, we do not see Hoary-headed Grebes regularly in inland NSW. A single bird was found by us at Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW, in July 2010. In December 2014 we spotted about 20 Hoary-headed Grebes on a small dam at the Burren Junction Bore Bath. In July 2016 a small number of Hoary-headed Grebes was spotted by us at Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW. A much larger number of Hoary-headed Grebes was found by us at Dangar's Lagoon, Uralla, NSW, in March 2012, together with a large number of Australasian Grebes. C. Hayne reports that Hoary-headed Grebes are regularly seen in various types of wetlands around Moree, NSW. Various contributors report occasionally finding Hoary-headed Grebes in wetlands in Melbourne, VIC. B. Hensen reports spotting Hoary-headed Grebes at Dangar's Lagoon near Uralla, NSW, in February 2013 and at Centennary Park, Sydney, NSW, in May 2013. Large numbers of both Hoary-headed Grebes and Australasian Grebes were also spotted by us in ephemeral wetlands 20 km South of Walgett, NSW, in June 2012. Some of those were in breeding plumage, in the middle of winter. Similarly, M. Eaton found Hoary-headed Grebes in breeding plumage at Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, in June 2020. R. Plumtree reports spotting Hoary-headed Grebes at Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, in April 2014 and again in May 2016. H. Mouritsen reports spotting Hoary-headed Grebes at Yellow Waters billabong, Kakadu NP, NT, in October 2015.

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 (Pizzey & Knight), 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

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Lateral view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a Hoary-headed Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2016]

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]

NON-BREEDING

Hoary-headed Grebes in both breeding and non-breeding plumage
[Burren Junction, NSW, December 2014]

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]

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

Without any grey feathers visible around the eye, this Hoary-headed Grebe may still be in juvenile plumage
[Burren Junction, NSW, January 2016]

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]

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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