Silvery Grebe (Podiceps occipitalis)

Identification & Behavior: ~28 cm (11 in).  The Silvery Grebe is mostly gray with white throat, neck, and breast. The underparts are whitish. It has a bright red iris. It is very similar to the Junin Grebe, but is distinguished by a slightly smaller size, a shorter, thinner, and black bill (bluish gray in Junin Grebe). Both grebes occur together only in Lake Junin.

Status: The Silvery Grebe is widespread in the high Andes where is it is generally uncommon. Not known to occur in coastal western lowlands. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Zambullidor Plateado.

Sub-species: Silvery Grebe (Podiceps occipitalis juninensis), von Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1894.
(Podiceps occipitalis occipitales), Garnot, 1826.

Meaning of Name:  Podiceps: L. podex, podicis= anus; and pes = foot. occipitalis: occi: back of the head, occipital area. In reference to the fact that grebes have their feet set so far back near the tail and the dark area in the nape of a silvery grebe.

See more of the Family Podicipedidae