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Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) Alternate name(s): "Dabchick" German name(s): "Zwergtaucher" Size: 23-29 cm; wing span 40-45 cm Body mass: 140-250 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.76

Europe: Family Group 2 Family Group 2 Table Common Loon Red-throated Loon Mute Swan Whooper Swan Greylag Goose Pink-footed Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Canada Goose Barnacle Goose Brent Goose Red-breasted Goose Common Eider Common Scoter Velvet Scoter Common Goldeneye Common Shelduck Ruddy Shelduck Northern Shoveler Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Garganey Northern Pintail Mallard Eurasian Teal Gadwall Common Pochard Red-crested Pochard Ferruginous Duck White-headed Duck Tufted Duck Ring-necked Duck Smew Red-breasted Merganser Goosander Great Crested Grebe Black-necked Grebe Little Grebe Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Little Grebes are small grebes. The two sexes look alike. During the non-breeding season their plumage is dark brown on the back and light brown on the flanks, and whiteish around the vent. During the breeding season the cap of the head and the throat turns black, while part of the back of the neck turns chestnut-brown. The bill turns all-black. Throughout the year they have a light-yellow spot on the gape. The eyes have dark-brown irises, the legs and feet dark-grey. Chicks and juveniles have a striped pattern on their cheeks and, when young, over their entire body, and an orange bill.

Taxonomy, classification See Little 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, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Little Grebe is available HERE . Little Grebes are a partly migratory, partly sedentary species. There are six extant races, which altogether populate large parts of Eurasia and Africa. Nominate race "ruficollis" populates Europe, including south-western Russia, and northern Africa. The range of race "iraquensis" is restricted to south-eastern Iraq and south-western Iran. Race "capensis" is found from sub-Saharan Africa via eastern Africa, Madagascar, near-coastal Arabia and the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka, to Burma in the East, while races "poggei", "philippensis" and "cotabato" are present in eastern Asia. In Europe nominate race "ruficollis" is sedentary all around the Mediterranean Sea, in western and central Europe, including most of the British Isles. Only in parts of Scotland and in southern Scandinavia they are breeding migrants. In all of eastern and south-eastern Europe, except for a narrow coastal fringe around both the Mediterranean and the western Black Sea, they are breeding migrants. They are absent from most of Scandinavia and from north-eastern Europe, beyond a line connecting the North coast of the Caspian Sea with the eastern Baltic Sea. During the breeding season Little Grebes have a strong preference for well-vegetated fresh water aquatic habitats, such as rivers and lakes, while outside the breeding season they are also found in more open habitats, including coastal waters.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "ruficollis" J. Pires reports spotting Little Grebes, nominate race "ruficollis", semi-regularly in the area of Mora, Evora, Portugal. M. Eaton reports finding Little Grebes, race "ruficollis", in St. James's Park, London, England, in September 2019. R. Normand found a Little Grebe, race "ruficollis", at Chantilly, Hauts-de-France, France, in December 2020. G. Normand spotted a Little Grebe, race "ruficollis", at Cambrin, Hauts-de-France, France, in March 2021. A. Sarok found Little Grebes, race "ruficollis", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024.

Photos

Race "ruficollis"

ADULT

PAIR

BREEDING

Lateral/dorsal view of two Little Grebes in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal/lateral view of a pair of Little Grebes in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Aljustrel, Beja, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a pair of Little Grebes in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2020]

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Distant near-frontal view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage on a rainy day (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Cambrin, Hauts-de-France, France, March 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, near Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, December 2022]

Dorsal view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2025]

Distant lateral view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage taking off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2022]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Normand)
[Chantilly, Hauts-de-France, France, December 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage going for a dive
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira do Monte do Porto, Arraiolos, Evora, Portugal, February 2022]

Lateral view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ria de Aveiro (Aveiro Lagoon), Salreu, Estarreja, Portugal, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage looking away from the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira do Monte do Porto, Arraiolos, Evora, Portugal, February 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

Near-dorsal/dorsal view of three Little Grebes in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Little Grebe (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]

Distant near-dorsal view of two Little Grebe chicks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2022]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Feb - Sep

Eggs: 4 - 7

Incubation period: 20 - 25 days

Fledging age: 44 - 48 days

Little Grebes can have 2-3 clutches per season. Within their protracted breeding season, most Little Grebe eggs are laid between late April and late June.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket

Material: Aquatic plants

Height above ground: N/A

Little Grebe with chick on their nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira do Monte do Porto, Arraiolos, Evora, Portugal, June 2022]

Eggs

Size: 38 x 26 mm

Colour: Creamy

Shape: Long elliptical

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Flock

In southern, central and western Europe Little Grebes are sedentary. The eastern European population is migratory, overwintering in south-eastern Europe and, e.g., in Asia Minor.

Food, Diet

Distant near-dorsal view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage with its catch, a small fish (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Little Grebe in non-breeding plumage with its catch, a small fish (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, January 2019]

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.

ltgrebe_jp_20190602.m4a

ruficollis (Portugal)

Contact calls(?) (+ Spanish Sparrow)

© JP

More Little 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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