Features& Description
The Little Grebe, Latin for “Tachybaptus ruficollis”, is a small aquatic bird, around 30 cm long.
A frequent diver, in breeding plumage it is chestnut-colored on the neck, black on the back and with a black cap on the top of the head.
A yellow spot at the corner of the bill is only visible during the breeding season.
In winter, its color changes to brown buff, black on the back and head, and the beak spot disappears.
Habitat(Biotope)
The Little Grebe is a resident of ponds and pools with dense vegetation, among water lilies and sometimes reeds.
It also prefers very shallow wetlands where it can nest.
Behavior& habits
The Little Grebe is a very shy bird, diving at the slightest warning and not easily observed.
In mating season, it is very noisy, and can be heard from several hundred meters away.
It doesn’t hesitate to pursue potential competitors or suitors, performing veritable cavalcades on the ponds.
Reproductionand immature
The Little Grebe builds its nest in the form of a raft from twigs and reeds.
The female lays between 5 and 6 eggs, which hatch after around 25 days.
Young grebes are nidifuges, so they leave the nest as soon as they are born, joining their parents in the water and sometimes taking refuge on their backs between their wings.
They won’t be able to fly for another month.
Cryor Voice
The Little Grebe has a varied, high-pitched call: “bii-iip” and “bit-bit-bit”, which can accelerate into a high-pitched, whinnying trill, often prolonged with a chorus of “bibibibibibibibi…”, rather like the call of the female Grey Cuckoo.
In winter, it is silent.
Le Grebe Castagneux
Beaver Grebe
