Little Grebe

Rondevlei, Sedgefield, Western Cape

The litte grebe is a common resident across Africa, New Guinea, much of Asia and Europe. It is a associated mainly with freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams using water plants and dense waterside vegatation for cover. It migrates south only when inhabiting regions where the water freezes although it will often winter in more open water and even on the coast.

Feeding

The little grebe dives for fish, molluscs and invertbrates such as insect larvae. The bird in the picture above has just emerged with its prey after a dive.

Breeding

The little grebe nests in small colonies, usually on the edge of a body of freshwater, in areas with heavy vegetation. The nest is a floating platform made of waterweed. The four to seven eggs are incubated by both parents who cover the eggs with weed when they leave the nest to protect it from predators. Both parents raise the precocial chicks that can swim soon after hatching. Parents will often carry the youngsters on their backs while swimming.

Wildfile Extras

The little grebe, also known as dabchick, is the world's smallest grebe, about half the size of a moorhen.
Like all grebes, its legs are set well back in its body, which is ideal for diving, but makes it clumsy on land.