What kind of bird is the Little Grebe, which is often introduced in photographs as a resident bird? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. This bird is widely distributed from temperate to tropical regions of the African and Eurasian continents, and there are several subspecies. However, this species is designated as an endangered species.
What is a Little Grebe? Basic Stats
Little grebes are birds classified as part of the Grebe family, Peturidae, and the genus Tachybaptus. Their scientific name is Tachybaptus ruficollis, and their English name is Little grebe. The kanji for Little grebe is written as “鳰(nio)” in Japanese, so they are also written as “Nio” or “Niodori”. They are 26cm long, weigh 130-240g, and have a wingspan of 40-50cm. The complete list of information is below. They look like ducks, and are a type of bird that can dive.
| Japanese（和名） | カイツブリ |
| English（英名） | Little grebe |
| scientific name(学名) | Tachybaptus ruficollis |
| classification（分類） | Aves、 Podicipediformes、 Podicipedidae、Tachybaptus 鳥綱、カイツブリ目、カイツブリ科、カイツブリ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | LEAST CONCERN |
| Length（体長） | 26cm |
| Weight（体重） | 130～240g |
Habitat
Little Grebes live in the mid-latitudes south of Africa and Eurasia, including the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Japan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Madagascar.
What are its characteristics? What kind of creature is it?
Little grebes have very short tail feathers and uniformly black-brown wings. Their beaks are short and pointed, with pale yellow spots at the tip. In summer, their summer plumage is black-brown from the head to the back of the neck, and reddish-brown feathers from the cheeks to the sides of the neck. In winter, their overall plumage is pale, and the upper surface from the head to the body becomes dark brown. They are known as resident birds in many areas and live in freshwater areas such as lakes, ponds, and rivers, moving on the surface. They make a small cry.
What is their ecology?
Little grebes are always in the water, and by diving they eat aquatic plants, small fish, plants, crustaceans such as fish and shrimp, shellfish, and aquatic insects. Little grebes live in small colonies. They breed multiple times a year, often building nests in freshwater areas, and the parents lay eggs. They are known to lay 4-6 eggs at a time, 1-3 times a year, from April to December. Males and females take turns incubating the eggs, which last for 20-25 days. The chicks and young are raised for about 60-70 days before leaving the nest and reaching sexual maturity in 1 year. The average lifespan is about 5 years.
Do they have any natural enemies?
Since little grebes mainly live in the water, their natural enemies include sharks and turtles.
Are little grebes an endangered species?
Little grebes are not endangered, but they are listed as near-threatened in Japanese municipalities (Tokyo, Gifu, Kyoto, Yamaguchi, and Okinawa). They are listed as endangered in Chiba Prefecture. Their population is declining in Japan due to habitat development and the resulting reduction in food.
Can little grebes be kept as pets?
Little grebes are managed under the Ministry of the Environment’s Wildlife Protection and Management Act, and feeding them is prohibited. They are often shown in photographs as wild birds on the water. They are also featured in images and sweets, and are sometimes sold.
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