- Tachybaptus dominicus
Identification
Sometimes called Short-billed Grebe.
L. 23-26cm.
- Dark brownish-grey
- Greenish gloss above
- Buffy breast and flanks with heavy dark barring
- White belly and undertail
- Slay-trey head and neck
- Black throat, chin, and crown
- Yellow to orange iris
- Black bill with small white tip
- Brownish-olive legs
Distribution
United States, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and southern Brazil
Taxonomy
Five subspecies recognized:
- T. d. brachypterus from south Texas to west-central Mexico and Panama
- T. d. bangsi in western Mexico (southern half of Baja California and southern Sonora)
- T. d. dominicus on Cozumel Island, Bahamas, Greater Antilles and Virgin Islands
- T. d. eisenmanni on the coast of Ecuador; populations of northwestern Peru presumably also this subspecies
- T. d. brachyrhynchus in tropical northern South America to south Brazil and north Argentina
Habitat
Freshwater ponds, slow-flowing rivers and swamps.
Behaviour
Breeding
The nest is a heap of rotting vegetation anchored to submerged plants in reedbeds or other marginal vegetation. 4-6 white eggs are laid and are incubated by both sexes for 21 days. Young tended by both sexes. Double-brooded, possibly treble-brooded at times.
Diet
Includes small fish and aquatic invertebrates.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Least Grebe. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Least_Grebe
