Bird Album
Hoary-headed Grebe
Poliocephalus poliocephalus (Jardine & Selby, 1827)
240 gWeight
The hoary-headed grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) is a member of the grebe family.
Busiest months: January, April and September–October · Most records: Australia, New Zealand
Where and when it's recorded
Busiest months: January, April and September–October · Most records: Australia, New Zealand
Hoary-headed Grebe has been recorded at 153 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.
Records by month Southern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Western Treatment PlantAustralia8,216 records
- Alice Springs Sewage PondsAustralia2,382 records
- Banyule Flats ReserveAustralia2,075 records
More places
- Western Treatment Plant – T Section PondsAustralia2,042 records
- Karkarook ParkAustralia1,679 records
- Jawbone Flora and Fauna ReserveAustralia1,559 records
- Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature ReserveAustralia1,416 records
- Laratinga WetlandsAustralia1,320 records
- West Belconnen PondAustralia1,263 records
- Braeside ParkAustralia1,205 records
Countries and regions with the most records
eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.
About
The hoary-headed grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) is a member of the grebe family. It breeds in southern parts of Australia; it winters throughout the island of Tasmania. The bird takes its name from the silvery-white streaking on its black head.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Hoary-headed Grebe?
The Hoary-headed Grebe weighs around 240 g.
Where does the Hoary-headed Grebe live?
Its breeding range: Australasia: southwestern, southeastern Australia and Tasmania. It is most often recorded in Australia and New Zealand.
When is the best time to see the Hoary-headed Grebe?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, April, September and October (Southern Hemisphere).
Is the Hoary-headed Grebe endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Hoary-headed Grebe as Least Concern.
What does the Hoary-headed Grebe eat?
Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.
What family is the Hoary-headed Grebe in?
It belongs to the family Grebes (Podicipedidae), order Podicipediformes.
At a glance
- Weight
- 240 g
- Habitat
- Wetland
- Diet
- Fish, shrimp & shellfish
- Lifestyle
- On the water surface
- Migration
- Resident (barely migrates)
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 110 mm
- Tail
- 28 mm
- Bill
- 24 mm
- Tarsus
- 34 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
Australasia: southwestern, southeastern Australia and Tasmania
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Podicipediformes
- Family
- Grebes Podicipedidae
- Genus
- Poliocephalus
Other birds in the genus Poliocephalus
New Zealand GrebePoliocephalus rufopectus
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
Madagascar GrebeTachybaptus pelzelnii
Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
White-tufted GrebeRollandia rolland
Titicaca GrebeRollandia microptera
Great GrebePodiceps major
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Kevin Yonando. ↗
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