Great Grebe
Podiceps major
Huge grebe with a long dagger-like bill, a dark gray head, and long, thin rufous neck. The face is paler gray in the nonbreeding season. Inhabits large open areas of water including large rivers and coastal lagoons. Outside of the breeding season may be found on estuaries and along the coast.
Identification
This is a very large grebe, with proportions more like a goose or a cormorant than a typical grebe. They range in length from 67 to 80 cm (26.5 to 31.5 in) and usually weigh about 1,600 grams (3.5 pounds), but can scale to at least 2 kg (4.4 lb). They are buffy-rufous on the neck and chest, blackish on the back and have a whitish belly. The head is sooty gray with a reddish-brown eye. Due to its size and unique coloration, the great grebe is unlikely to be confused with any other bird, including other grebes.
Taxonomy
The great grebe was described by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in 1781 in his Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. The bird was also illustrated in a hand-coloured plate engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet in the Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle, which was produced under the supervision of Edme-Louis Daubenton to accompany Buffon's text. Neither the plate caption nor Buffon's description included a scientific name but in 1783 the Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert coined the binomial name Colymbus major in his catalogue of the Planches Enluminées. Buffon mistakenly believed that his specimen had come from Cayenne in French Guiana. The great grebe is now placed in the genus Podiceps that was erected by the English naturalist John Latham in 1787.<p>Two subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Podiceps major
- Authority
- (Boddaert, 1783)
- Order
- Podicipediformes
- Family
- Podicipedidae
- Genus
- Podiceps
Range and habitat
This species occurs mainly in open waterways. Most birds are seen on low altitude lakes and sluggish rivers (often surrounded by forests), as well as estuarine marshes. While breeding, it frequents the heavily vegetated inlets off of large lakes. Outside of the breeding season, most birds will move to estuaries and bays, usually heavy with kelp (occasionally, they even are seen on the open sea). Non-breeding birds may live along the coasts all year.<p>These birds are widespread and common through most of their range. Much of their native habitat has not been cleared, especially in the southern portions of their range.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Xenops minutus
Active small bird of humid tropical forest. Usually found singly, often moving with mixed-species feeding flocks. Clambers and climbs on small branches, twigs, and vines, mainly at middle to upper levels inside forest. Often hangs upside down like a chickadee. Note the bold white whisker mark, boldly patterned black-and-rusty wings and tail, and short, wedge-shaped bill. Compared to Streaked Xenops, note the general lack of streaking in Atlantic Plain. Song is a short, relatively slow, high-pitched series of upslurred squeaky notes.
Salvadori's Fig-Parrot
Cyclopsitta salvadorii
A medium-sized, chunky parrot of lowland and foothill forest. Green body and crown, yellow-green streaked cheek and a blue patch behind the eye. Male has a red patch on the chest. Tail usually held to a point. Courtship behaviour includes head-bobbing and presenting pieces of peeled off bark. Similar to Edward’s Fig-Parrot and ranges may meet. Salvadori’s lacks the red streaked face and purple breast band. Call, a very shrill high-pitch note, sometimes followed by a high-pitch rough note “tsiik!-krrrk!”.
Green-breasted Mango
Anthracothorax prevostii
Large, bulky hummingbird with slightly arched black bill. Favors forest edge and open areas with scattered tall trees. Often perches and feeds high in canopy, but also feeds low on occasions and will visit feeders. Male (some females similar) solidly dark, deep green overall with black throat, purplish tail. Female and immature have broad dark stripe down center of throat and breast, white tail corners. Immature also has rusty mottling along sides of throat and breast.
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