From Opus

Podiceps occipitalis

Photo of subspecies occipitalis by mickfi
Photo taken: Stanley, Falkland Islands

Photo of subspecies juninensis by BirdsPeru
Photo taken: Milloc bog, Peru, at over 3000 m.a.s.l.

[edit] Identification

L. 28cm: A small South American grebe with distinctive breeding plumage. Adult breeding: Dark grey-brown above, white below with black streaking on flanks. Crown grey with nape and hindneck black, forehead and ear-coverts soft grey and throat and foreneck white. Tuft of long dull yellow plumes on each side of head behind eye drooping down over ear-coverts. Adult non-breeding: as breeding adult but lacks yellow plumes. Distinguished from White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland by black nape patch and white foreneck.

[edit] Distribution

Western South America from Colombia and Ecuador south to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands. Partial migrant.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies recognised: juninensis from Colombia to northern Chile and northern Argentina and nominate further south. These differ in plumage as shown in the photos. Birds of Chile (Jaramillo, Burke and Beadle) proposes that the two forms are better seen as full species.

Photo of subspecies occipitalis in Winter by Marcus Lawson
Photo taken: Potrerillos, Argentina

Photo of subspecies juninensis in Winter by Marcus Lawson
Photo taken: Lauca NP, Chile

[edit] Habitat

Mountain lakes, more coastal areas after breeding

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes aquatic insects and their larvae, fish and small crustaceans.

2 bluish-white eggs are laid in December in a floating nest made of aquatic vegetation.

Voice: Clucking and twittering calls.

[edit] External Links

• Discussion thread for Id and taxonomy of this species