Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE LOONS AND GREBES

Dabchicks

The Grebes are practically cosmopolitan in distribution. Of the twenty-five or thirty forms recognized, North America lays claim to six, South America to nine, Europe to five, etc. There is some difference of opinion as to the number of genera that should be recognized, but according to recent authority it is perhaps advisable to recognize seven, of which Podicipes with fifteen species is the largest.

Of these one of the best known is the Little Grebe, or Dab-chick (P.fluviatilis) of central and southern Europe, whence it ranges westward into central Asia and even reaches Japan. It is only about nine and one half inches long and has the head, neck, and upper parts dark brown, the chin black, the cheek, throat, and sides of the neck reddish chestnut, and the under parts grayish white, while the bill is horn-color and the legs and feet dull green.

It is a common and well-known bird throughout the British Islands, frequenting in summer the lakes and ponds, but in winter resorting to the rivers and larger bodies of water, and in very severe weather to the seacoast. It begins to breed toward the end of April or early in May, making the usual floating nest among the reeds.”

The Dabchick,”says Mr. Hudson,”has the curious habit of holding its young under its wing and diving from the nest, to take them out of danger.”

Two broods are frequently reared in a season, one bird caring for the numbers of the first brood while the other parent is incubating the second set of eggs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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