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Silvery Grebe - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 15:26, 29 January 2008 by BigRedBirder (talk | contribs)
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Podiceps occipitalis
Photo by canutus
Photo taken: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Identification

L. 28cm

  • Small

Adult Breeding

  • Dark grey-brown above
  • White below
  • Black streaking on flanks
  • Grey crown
  • Black nape and hindneck
  • Soft grey forehead and ear coverts
  • White throat and foreneck
  • Long dull yellow plumes on each side of head
    • Droop down over ear coverts

Adult Non-breeding

Similar to breeding adult but lacks yellow plumes.

Similar Species

Distinguished from White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland by black nape patch and white foreneck.

Distribution

Western South America from Colombia and Ecuador south to Tierra del Fuego and the Flakland Islands. Partial migrant.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies recognised: juninensis from Colombia to northern Chile and northern Argentina and nominate further south.

Habitat

Mountain lakes, more coastal areas after breeding

Behaviour

Diet

Aquatic insects and their larvae, fish and small crustaceans.

Breeding

Lays 2 bluish-white eggs in December in a floating nest made of aquatic vegetation

Voice

Clucking and twittering calls.

External Links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Silvery_Grebe&oldid=78879’
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