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Difference between revisions of "Little Grebe" - BirdForum Opus

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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
23-29cm.  Dark greyish-brown above, paler below with tawny flanks. Crown hindneck blackish with throat, ear coverts, sides and front of neck chestnut. Bill black with white tip and yellow gape patch, legs olive-green.
+
23-29cm.   
 
+
*Dark greyish-brown above
 +
*Paler below with tawny flanks
 +
*Blackish crown and hindneck
 +
*Chestnut throat, ear coverts, and sides and front of neck
 +
*Black bill with white tip
 +
*Yellow gape patch
 +
*Olive-green legs
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
[[Europe]], southern [[Scandinavia]], [[Turkey]],  the [[Middle East]], [[India]], [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]].  
 
[[Europe]], southern [[Scandinavia]], [[Turkey]],  the [[Middle East]], [[India]], [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]].  
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Well-vegetated ponds and lakes, mainly in lowland areas.  
 
Well-vegetated ponds and lakes, mainly in lowland areas.  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 +
====Diet====
 
Diet includes small fish and aquatic invertebrates.
 
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.  
 
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.  
  
Voice ''whit-whit'' and in breeding season utters a whinnying trill, sometimes in duet.  
+
==Voice==
 +
''whit-whit'' and in breeding season utters a whinnying trill, sometimes in duet.  
 
==Bird Song==
 
==Bird Song==
 
<flashmp3>Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
<flashmp3>Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />

Revision as of 15:15, 29 January 2008

Tachybaptus ruficollis
Photo by Nigel Pye


Identification

23-29cm.

  • Dark greyish-brown above
  • Paler below with tawny flanks
  • Blackish crown and hindneck
  • Chestnut throat, ear coverts, and sides and front of neck
  • Black bill with white tip
  • Yellow gape patch
  • Olive-green legs

Distribution

Europe, southern Scandinavia, Turkey, the Middle East, India, China, Korea and Japan.

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.

Habitat

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.

Voice

whit-whit and in breeding season utters a whinnying trill, sometimes in duet.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Tachybaptus ruficollis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

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