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2

Little Grebe

(Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Alternate name(s): "Dabchick"
German name(s): "Zwergtaucher"

Size: 23-29 cm; wing span 40-45 cm
Weight: 140-250 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 Little Grebe at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "ruficollis"

ADULT

BREEDING

PAIR

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

Sex unknown

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 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)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2018]

Distant dorsal view of a Little Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2018]

NON-BREEDING

PAIR

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

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]

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]

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]

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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