Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)

Order: Podicipediformes | Family: Podicipedidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

least-grebe
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Villa Rica, Peru

least-grebe
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Manu National Park

least-grebe
Age: Adult and Chicks | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonia, Brazil

least-grebe
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Manu National Park

Identification & Behavior: ~22.3 cm (9 in). The Least Grebe is dark gray with shades of brown and contrasting yellow eyes. Birds in basic plumage are browner and have a whitish throat. Immature birds are dull brown. The Least grebe favors ponds and lakes surrounded by forest. It is distinguished from the similar Pied-billed Grebe and White-tufted Grebe, by a thin dark bill and contrasting yellow eyes.

Status: The Least Grebe is rare to uncommon in the lowlands of northwestern Peru and the Amazonian lowlands where it seems associated to the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Zambullidor Menor

Sub-species: Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus speciosus) (Lynch Arribálzaga, 1877).

Meaning of Name:  Tachybaptus: Gr. takhus fast; bapto = dive, sink under. dominicus: Originating from Dominicus or the Dominican Republic. A small diving bird from the Caribbean Region (Dominican Republic).

See more of the Family Podicipedidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
Least GrebeVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum. http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu (10/18/2014).