Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Fairly common but often inconspicuous small diving bird of wetlands with bordering reeds and other vegetation. Often remains out of sight; less often out on open water (mainly in winter). Rather compact, with rounded head, puffy rear end. Seen mainly as singles and small loose flocks, often sleeping during the day. Breeding plumage often looks dark overall; in good light note dark rusty head and neck sides with yellow patch at base of bill. Nonbreeding plumage dingy pale brownish overall with dark cap.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Order
Podicipediformes
Family
Podicipedidae
Genus
Tachybaptus

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Red-billed Ground-Cuckoo

Red-billed Ground-Cuckoo

Neomorphus pucheranii

Impressive roadrunner-like cuckoo found in Amazonian rainforest. Large and long-tailed, with a red bill tipped with yellow and a red face. Upperparts are bronzy green with chestnut wings and a black cap, and underparts are mostly gray with a black breast band (indistinct on some birds) and faint barring on the throat. Distinguished from Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo by Red-billed’s mostly red bill, red face, completely black crown, and chestnut wings. Rarely encountered and poorly known, but like other ground-cuckoos it is terrestrial and most likely to be encountered when following swarms of army ants. Song is a very low, rising “who?” that is repeated every few seconds; also gives loud bill snaps.

Mulga Parrot

Mulga Parrot

Psephotellus varius

Medium-sized colorful parrot, widespread across more arid and semi-arid woodlands of southern inland Australia. Adult male very brightly colored and striking in appearance, primarily turquoise-green with dark blue and yellow in the wings and yellow and red in lower belly. Female primarily brownish-green but with splashes of turquoise, blue, red, and yellow. Typically feeds on the ground. Calls include a repeated, clear, rising "whitt."

Thick-billed Cuckoo

Thick-billed Cuckoo

Pachycoccyx audeberti

Huge cuckoo that is black above and white below. Immature has white barring across its upperparts. Looks raptor-like in powerful, swooping flight. Uncommon bird of rainforest, gallery forest, and moist woodland, especially miombo. Call is a loud, repeated “wheet-it”, often given in a high display flight. Adult is separated from Great Spotted, Levaillant’s, and Pied cuckoos by its lack of a crest or white in the wing. Immature is similar to Great Spotted Cuckoo, but has black-and-white speckles on the head, and lacks a crest.

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.

Little Grebe | BirdLens