Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

The Little Grebe is a small (27 cm) grebe with a chestnut throat and foreneck, a grayish black crown, hindneck, back and breast and brownish sides.  The base of the bill and iris are yellow, the bill is black with a white tip and the legs are dark gray.  Non-breeding birds are paler, especially in the head and neck, which lack the chestnut.  Sexes are similar.

The Little Grebe frequents mainly small lakes and ponds, but may be found in more open waters such as large lakes and reservoirs in winter.  It feeds on a wide variety of aquatic insects, other invertebrates such as molluscs and crustaceans, and small fish and amphibians.  It feeds by making short (10-25 sec.), shallow (1-2 m) dives.  The nest of the Little Grebe is a floating platform of aquatic plants anchored to submerged vegetation.  The female usually lays 4 eggs, and both parents share in the incubation.  Two broods per year are often produced.

In Taiwan the Little Grebe is a common resident year-round.

References:  Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 1; A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon and Phillipps); 100 Common Birds of Taiwan (Wild Bird Society of Taipei)