Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Description

Tachybaptus ruficollis is a small water bird with a short, pointed beak. Adult birds have black color on the head, nape, chest, and back. The cheeks, throat, and neck are dark reddish brown, and the flanks are dark brown. Black beak with pale tip. The feet are very large, dark green with curved toes and reddish-brown irises. Juvenile birds are paler than adults.

Population Size

Unknown

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

150-200 g

LENGTH

23-29 cm

Ca

Carnivore

So

Solitary

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Chordata

CLASS

:

Aves

ORDER

:

Podicipediformes

FAMILY

:

Podicipedidae

GENUS

:

Tachybaptus

SPECIES

:

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Distribution

Tachybaptus ruficollis can be found in wetlands, open water, freshwater lakes, ponds, and coastal seas.

Geography

Continent : Asia, Europe and Africa

Country : Afghanistan, Austria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India , Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Netherlands, North Macedonia , Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, Togo, Tunisia , Turkey, Urganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Zambia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Macao.

Habits and Lifestyle

Tachybaptus ruficollis is an excellent swimmer and diver and often sleeps during the day. This species lives alone, in pairs, or in small groups.

Lifestyle

Solitary

Biome

–

Climate Zone

Tropical or subtropical

Diet and Nutrition

Tachybaptus ruficollis feeds on small fish, insects, crustaceans, shellfish and molluscs.

Diet : Carnivore

Mating Habits

This bird’s breeding season is during the rainy season, but also occurs in May. The female lays 4-7 eggs with an incubation period of 19-20 days.

Reproduction session : –

Incubation periods : 19-20 days

Independent age : –

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : 4-7 eggs

Population

Population status : Least Concern (LC)

NE

DD

LC

NT

VU

EN

CR

EW

EX

Population number​

This bird population is declining but not near the threshold of vulnerability, so it is categorized as a species of Least Concern in the IUCN Redlist.

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. Little Grebe on the Wikipedia Article
  2. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis on the Nature Gate Article
  3. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis on The IUCN Redlist