Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera)

Identification & Behavior: ~40 cm (16 in). The Titicaca Grebe is mostly gray-brown with white sides of the head, throat, front of the neck, and breast. The underparts are whitish. It has a bright orange and black bill. The color structure is similar to that of Silvery Grebe, but is distinguished by a gray-brown plumage with bright orange and black bill.  Juveniles are a dull version of the adults.

Status: The Titicaca Grebe is restricted to the Titicaca Lake and adjacent Andean lakes where it favors shallow areas with reed beds and other vegetation. Formerly fairly common. The population decline is largely due to a high rate of mortality as bird entangle in fishing nets. It also occurs in Bo.

Name in Spanish: Zambullidor del Titicaca.

Sub-species: Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera) (Gould, 1868).

Meaning of Name:  Rollandia: one that belongs to the genus Rolland. microptera: L. micro= small, ptera=wing. A grebe of the genus Rollandia with small wings.

See more of the Family Podicipedidae