New Zealand Grebe

From Opus

Poliocephalus rufopectus

Identification

28cm. Black-brown above, rufous breast , cinnamon-brown flanks and undertail, white belly, black crown and nape with greenish gloss, black-brown hindneck, black and grey streaked lores and ear-coverts, brown chin and throat, rufous foreneck, white iris, stout bill.

Distribution

New Zealand

Taxonomy

Habitat

Freshwaters including reservoirs, lakes and swamps.

Behaviour

Voice Shrill wee-wee-wee and low tuk-tuk-tuk when breeding. Nest is a heap of vegetation, floating and anchored to submerged plants or on the bottom in shallow water. 2-3 chalky-white eggs are laid.

Diet includes small fish and aquatic invertebrates.

External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID