- 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
Four-six subspecies recognised. Race brachypterus occurs from Texas to Panama, bangsi in southern Baja California, nominate race in the Caribbean and brachyrhynchus in South America. Birds from Trinidad and Colombia are sometimes separated as speciosus and those from west Ecuador as eisenmanni.
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.
