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Australasian grebe
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
-31.9745, 115.868
Field Notes
Description:
The Australasian Grebe is a small waterbird with two distinct plumage phases. The non-breeding plumage of both the male and female is dark grey-brown above and mostly silver-grey below, with a white oval patch of bare skin at the base of the bill. During the breeding season, both sexes have a glossy-black head and a rich chestnut facial stripe which extends from just behind the eye through to the base of the neck. At this time, the eye becomes darker and the patch of skin at the base of the bill becomes pale yellow and more noticeable. When approached, Australasian Grebes usually dive under water.
Habitat:
Swan River
Notes:
nhabits wetlands with abundant aquatic vegetation. Nests among emergent water plants. Poor fluttering flyers, they keep to smaller deeper stretches of fresh water with patchy reed cover in which they can hide. They feed mostly at dawn and dusk on small fish, pond snails, water insects and crustaceans.Australasian Grebes eat their feathers and feed them to their young.
This may prevent sharp fish bones from perforating the gut. They remain in territorial pairs or small groups when not breeding and are the most vocal of Australian grebes. Three broods per season. Eggs: 4 to 7; pale blue stained brown.
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