small; dark crown; red face; puffy rear end (South Africa; 2007-06-30)


Little Grebe (or Dabchick)
Tachybaptus ruficollis

Native Range: Africa, Eurasia, and Oriental Region

Notes: this widespread and diminutive grebe is the Old World counterpart and ecological equivalent of the Least Grebe of the Americas.


yellow gape flange; dark back and breast (South Africa; 2007-06-30)

dark orange iris; body like a round puffball (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-10)

eating a clam (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-10)

posing for a portrait (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-10)

non-breeding plumage; loses red on face, neck (Luxembourg; 2007-10-16)