Identification
A small, compact diving bird with a short neck and fluffy rear body. Breeding birds have warm reddish head sides; winter birds are paler and less striking.
When to look
Resident, dispersive and migratory behaviour depends on winter conditions. Freezing can move birds towards larger unfrozen waters.
Where to look
Small shallow lakes, sheltered pools and vegetated wetland margins suit its feeding and cover requirements.
Behaviour and ecology
Food and nutrition
Aquatic invertebrates and other small prey are caught underwater. Rich, sheltered shallows can support birds that remain difficult to see.
Breeding and life cycle
Pairs nest among water plants. Water levels and vegetation growth influence which sites are suitable.
A closer look
An apparently empty pond can hold a grebe that spends much of its time diving or hidden beside reeds. Repeated patient scans can be rewarding.
Global conservation assessment
LC · Least Concern
Global category recorded from the linked assessment; it does not describe local abundance. Least Concern does not mean absence of threats.
View the source assessment ↗Observation and photography
Stay still and allow it to resurface normally. Avoid following each dive with a moving boat or entering its nesting vegetation.
Sources and further reading
Keep a distance that allows birds to feed and rest normally. Do not enter colonies, approach nests, flush roosts or use playback for photographs. Never publish precise nest locations of sensitive species. Follow reserve rules and your guide's advice.