Grebes (W)
From WikiBird
Podicipedidae
Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter. This order contains on a single family, the Podicipedidae, containing 20 species in 6 genera.
Grebes are small to medium-large in size, have lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. They leave the water only to nest, walking very short distances upright like penguins. They can run for a short distance, but often fall over.
Grebes have narrow wings, and some species are reluctant to fly; indeed, two South American species are completely flightless. They respond to danger by diving rather than flying, and are in any case much less wary than ducks.
- White-tufted Grebe (Rollandia rolland)
- Short-winged Grebe (Rollandia microptera)
- Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
- Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
- Alaotra Grebe (Tachybaptus rufolavatus)
- Madagascar Grebe (Tachybaptus pelzelnii)
- Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)
- Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
- Atitlan Grebe (Podilymbus gigas)
- Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)
- New Zealand Grebe (Poliocephalus rufopectus)
- Great Grebe (Podiceps major)
- Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
- Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
- Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
- Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
- Colombian Grebe (Podiceps andinus)
- Silvery Grebe (Podiceps occipitalis)
- Puna Grebe (Podiceps taczanowskii)
- Hooded Grebe (Podiceps gallardoi)
- Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
- Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii)
