summer adult

summer adult winter adult European distribution summer

Identification

Little Grebes or Dabchicks are so dumpy in shape that they can look just like a ball of fluff floating on the water. They are the smallest and probably the commonest British grebes and they can be identified not just by their characteristic shape but also by the pale yellow spot at the base of the bill which becomes more obvious in the breeding season. In all plumages they show less contrast than other grebes, their cheeks and throat being dark chestnut in summer and dull buff rather than white in winter.

Habitat

Breeds on well-vegetated lakes, ponds, reservoirs, marshes and slow-moving rivers. Winters on estuaries, lakes and reservoirs.

Behaviour

Mating usually takes place on the nest, accompanied by rhythmic side-to-side movements of the heads of both birds.

Migration

Most European populations are fairly sedentary. However, Scandinavian birds tend to be quite migratory, having to move south to unfrozen areas of water or onto the sea.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Little Grebe is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Belfast Lough RSPB, Antrim 23/01/2010	Belfast Lough RSPB, Antrim 23/01/2010	Belfast Lough RSPB, Antrim 23/01/2010	St Albans, Herts 01/02/2010	Cley, Norfolk 01/02/2010
Fishpools of Ein Hamifratz, Israel 01/02/2010	Labe river, Czech Republic 30/01/2010	Fishpools of Ein Hamifratz, Israel 01/02/2010	Kutch, Gujarat, India 26/01/2010	Belfast Lough RSPB, Antrim 23/01/2010

 View all pictures of Little Grebe

Little Grebe breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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