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Difference between revisions of "Little Grebe" - BirdForum Opus

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;Tachybaptus ruficollis
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[[Image:Little_Grebe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Nigel+Pye|Nigel Pye}}<br />[[Cley]], [[Norfolk]], 5 May 2006]]
[[Image:Little_Grebe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Nigel Pye]]
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;[[:Category:Tachybaptus|Tachybaptus]] ruficollis
 
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'''Includes: Tricoloured Grebe'''
  
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
23-29cm.  
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[[Image:Littlegrebejuv.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Chick ''T. r. albescens''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Protected Water-body, Delhi, [[India]], 16 August 2012]]
*Dark greyish-brown above
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<!--- Comment to editors: The images by Alok were uploaded as ''capensis'', however, that subspecies has been split and they belong to the part that became ''albescens'' --->
*Paler below with tawny flanks
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25–29 cm (9¾-11½ in)  
*Blackish crown and hindneck
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*upperparts dark greyish-brown
*Chestnut throat, ear coverts, and sides and front of neck
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*underparts paler, greyer
*Black bill with white tip
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*flanks tawny
*Yellow gape patch
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*crown and hindneck blackish
*Olive-green legs
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*throat, ear-[[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]], and sides and front of neck chestnut
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*bill black with white tip
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*gape patch yellow
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*legs olive-green
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
[[Europe]], southern [[Scandinavia]], [[Turkey]]the [[Middle East]], [[India]], [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]].  
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Common and widespread in the Old World.
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'''Breeds''' widely across [[Europe]] from [[Iberia]], the [[British Isles]] and southern [[Scandinavia]] eastwards including parts of [[Turkey]] and the [[Middle East]]. Breeds across southern [[Asia]] including much of [[India]] and [[Indochina]] to [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]. Has a scattered distribution in the [[Philippines]], [[Indonesia]] (rare breeder on [[Java]] and [[Bali]]) and [[New Guinea]]. In [[Africa]] breeds across the north-west and in the Nile Delta and widespread south of the Sahara absent only from the driest or most heavily forested areas.
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'''Vagrants''' recorded on the [[Azores]], [[Madeira]] and [[Canary Islands]]. Mainly resident with northernmost populations migratory or dispersive.
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==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
About nine subspecies recognised. Nominate race occurs in Europe, Turkey and north-west Africa, ''capensis'' (larger with more white in wing) in Egypt, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia from the Caucasus to Burma, ''iraquensis'' (with indistinct white wing-bar) in Iraq and south-west Iran, ''poggei'' in Japan, China, Taiwan and Malaysia, ''kunikyonis'' in the central Ryukyu Islands, ''philippensis'' on some of the Philippines, ''cotabato'' on Mindanao, ''vulcanorum'' on islands from Java to Timor and the Kai Islands and ''tricolor'' in Sulawesi, the Moluccas and northern New Guinea Islands.
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Subspecies ''collaris'', ''tricolor'' and ''vulcanorum'' may be split as "Tricolored Grebe", ''Tachybaptus tricolor''.
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[[Image:41949707225 03086c4660 c.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Sub-adult, subspecies ''poggei''<br />Photo by {{user|SeeToh|SeeToh}}<br />Lorong Halus, [[Singapore]], 17 June 2018]]<!-- Editors note:  this image not in gallery-->
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====Subspecies====
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Clements recognises the following subspecies [[#References|[1]]]:
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*''ruficollis'': [[Europe]] east to the Ural Mountains, wintering south to [[Egypt]]; also breeds northwest [[Africa]] from Western Sahara east to Tunisia
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*''iraquensis'': [[Iraq]] and south-west [[Iran]]. [indistinct white wing-bar]
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*''capensis'': [[Africa]], primarily south of the Sahara but breeding north to [[Egypt]] in the east; also the [[Comoros]] and [[Madagascar]]. [larger with more white in wing]
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*''albescens'': from Caucasus east to eastern [[Kazakhstan]], south to [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], and [[Myanmar]]. [yellow/orange eyes]
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*''poggei'': [[Japan]], [[China]], [[Taiwan]] to [[Malaysia]]
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*''philippensis'': northern part of the [[Philippines]]
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*''cotabato'': Mindanao,
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*''vulcanorum'': '''Tricoloured Grebe'''". Islands from [[Java]] to [[Timor]] and the [[Kai Islands]]
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*''tricolor'': "'''Tricoloured Grebe'''". [[Sulawesi]], the [[Moluccas]] and northern [[New Guinea|New Guinea Islands]]
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*''collaris'': '''Tricoloured Grebe'''". Northeast [[New Guinea]] to Bougainville ([[Solomon Islands]])
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Populations in Libya and the Nile Delta not assigned to subspecies
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==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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[[Image:DSCN2294 2 .JPG|thumb|350px|right|Adult ''T. r. albescens''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, [[India]], 23 August 2016]]
 
Well-vegetated ponds and lakes, mainly in lowland areas.  
 
Well-vegetated ponds and lakes, mainly in lowland areas.  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
Its nest is a heap of vegetation in reed beds or other marginal vegetation.  4-6 whitish initially soon becoming stained eggs are laid and are incubated by both sexes for 19-25 days.  
 
Its nest is a heap of vegetation in reed beds or other marginal vegetation.  4-6 whitish initially soon becoming stained eggs are laid and are incubated by both sexes for 19-25 days.  
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====Vocalisation====
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[[Image:Bf231.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo by {{user|luca26|luca26}}<br />Adda River, Lombardia, [[Italy]], 6 May 2018]]
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''whit-whit'' and in breeding season utters a whinnying trill, sometimes in duet.
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{{ Audio|Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3 }}
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''[[Media:Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3|Little Grebe voice clip]]''<br />
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{{ Audio|Little_grebe.mp3 }}
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''[[Media: Little_grebe.mp3|Little Grebe voice clip]]''<br />
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Recording &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />
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Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, [[India]], 23 August 2016<br />
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Alarm call given by parent feeding chicks, on perceiving danger.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thOct22}}#{{Ref-GillDonskerRasmussen22V12.2}}#[http://birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1960366 Birdforum thread] discussing the taxonomy of Little Grebe
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#Brazil, M.A. (1991) The Birds of Japan. Smithsonian Inst. Press.
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#Llimona, F., del Hoyo, J., Christie, D.A., Jutglar, F., Garcia, E.F.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Little Grebe (''Tachybaptus ruficollis''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52477 on 1 April 2019).
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{{ref}}
  
==Voice==
 
''whit-whit'' and in breeding season utters a whinnying trill, sometimes in duet.
 
==Bird Song==
 
<flashmp3>Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
''[[Media:Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Tachybaptus+ruficollis}}
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{{GSearch|"Tachybaptus ruficollis" {{!}} "Little Grebe"}}
*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=1071&Bird_Image_ID=484&Bird_Family_ID=111 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
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{{VSearch|"Tachybaptus ruficollis" {{!}} "Little Grebe"}}
[[Category:Birds]]
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{{GS-checked}}
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Tachybaptus]][[Category:Bird Songs]]

Latest revision as of 13:44, 24 August 2023

Nominate subspecies
Photo © by Nigel Pye
Cley, Norfolk, 5 May 2006
Tachybaptus ruficollis

Includes: Tricoloured Grebe

Identification

Chick T. r. albescens
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Protected Water-body, Delhi, India, 16 August 2012

25–29 cm (9¾-11½ in)

  • upperparts dark greyish-brown
  • underparts paler, greyer
  • flanks tawny
  • crown and hindneck blackish
  • throat, ear-coverts, and sides and front of neck chestnut
  • bill black with white tip
  • gape patch yellow
  • legs olive-green

Distribution

Common and widespread in the Old World.

Breeds widely across Europe from Iberia, the British Isles and southern Scandinavia eastwards including parts of Turkey and the Middle East. Breeds across southern Asia including much of India and Indochina to China, Korea and Japan. Has a scattered distribution in the Philippines, Indonesia (rare breeder on Java and Bali) and New Guinea. In Africa breeds across the north-west and in the Nile Delta and widespread south of the Sahara absent only from the driest or most heavily forested areas.

Vagrants recorded on the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands. Mainly resident with northernmost populations migratory or dispersive.

Taxonomy

Subspecies collaris, tricolor and vulcanorum may be split as "Tricolored Grebe", Tachybaptus tricolor.

Sub-adult, subspecies poggei
Photo by SeeToh
Lorong Halus, Singapore, 17 June 2018

Subspecies

Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:

Populations in Libya and the Nile Delta not assigned to subspecies

Habitat

Adult T. r. albescens
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, India, 23 August 2016

Well-vegetated ponds and lakes, mainly in lowland areas.

Behaviour

Diet

Diet includes small fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Breeding

Its nest is a heap of vegetation in reed beds or other marginal vegetation. 4-6 whitish initially soon becoming stained eggs are laid and are incubated by both sexes for 19-25 days.

Vocalisation

Nominate subspecies
Photo by luca26
Adda River, Lombardia, Italy, 6 May 2018

whit-whit and in breeding season utters a whinnying trill, sometimes in duet. Little Grebe voice clip

Little Grebe voice clip
Recording © by Alok Tewari
Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, India, 23 August 2016
Alarm call given by parent feeding chicks, on perceiving danger.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2) DRAFT. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
  3. Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Little Grebe
  4. Brazil, M.A. (1991) The Birds of Japan. Smithsonian Inst. Press.
  5. Llimona, F., del Hoyo, J., Christie, D.A., Jutglar, F., Garcia, E.F.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52477 on 1 April 2019).

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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