Little Grebe

Scientific Name: Tachybaptus ruficollis
Malay Name: Tetimbul Kecil Biasa
Chinese Name: 小䴙䴘

Range:
Found from Africa to Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: ruficollis, albescens, iraquensis, capensis, poggei, philippensis, cotabato.

Local Subspecies: poggei

Size: 25-29 cm

Identification:
Small and duck-like. Adult has bright rufous-chestnut head-sides, throat and foreneck contrasting with dark brown crown, hindneck and upperside, yellow eyes and blackish bill with prominent yellow gape-skin. Juvenile has duller plumage, pinkish-orange bill, blackish head with vertical buffish stripes on head and neck.

Habitat: Well vegetated marshes and disused quarry pools.

Behaviour/Ecology: Seldom flies when alarmed, preferring to dive underwater before resurfacing a few meters away.

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Featured articles:

• An Indonesian Archipelago Wishlist: Birds to Look Out For (Science)
• Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)

Past accepted records in our database: (not a complete listing)

Little Grebe at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Little Grebe at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Little Grebe at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Little Grebe nest building at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Little Grebe chick at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap