New Zealand Grebe (Poliocephalus rufopectus)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

New Zealand Grebe

Poliocephalus rufopectus (Gray, GR, 1843)

249 gWeight

The New Zealand dabchick (Poliocephalus rufopectus), also known as the New Zealand grebe or by its Māori name weweia, is a member of the grebe family endemic to New Zealand.

Busiest months: November · Most records: New Zealand

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

New Zealand Grebe has been recorded at 46 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Mangere WTP – Puketutu CanalNew Zealand504 records
  2. Tokaanu Old Wharf RdNew Zealand398 records
  3. Rotorua – Sulphur PointNew Zealand351 records
More places
  1. Otaki Sewage PondsNew Zealand334 records
  2. Lake ElterwaterNew Zealand320 records
  3. Mangere WTP – main holding pondNew Zealand310 records
  4. Western Springs Lakeside ParkNew Zealand258 records
  5. Whangarei – Vinegar LakeNew Zealand245 records
  6. Auckland – Maungarei Springs WetlandNew Zealand196 records
  7. Foxton Beach – Palmer Rd pondsNew Zealand186 records

Countries and regions with the most records

New Zealand

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 New Zealand dabchick (Poliocephalus rufopectus), also known as the New Zealand grebe or by its Māori name weweia, is a member of the grebe family endemic to New Zealand.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the New Zealand Grebe?

The New Zealand Grebe weighs around 249 g.

Where does the New Zealand Grebe live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: North Island (New Zealand). It is most often recorded in New Zealand.

When is the best time to see the New Zealand Grebe?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the New Zealand Grebe endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the New Zealand Grebe as Least Concern.

What does the New Zealand Grebe eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the New Zealand Grebe in?

It belongs to the family Grebes (Podicipedidae), order Podicipediformes.

At a glance

Weight
249 g
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
On the water surface
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
111 mm
Tail
31 mm
Bill
27 mm
Tarsus
36 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: North Island (New Zealand)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Grebes Podicipedidae
Genus
Poliocephalus

Other birds in the genus Poliocephalus

Hoary-headed GrebeHoary-headed GrebePoliocephalus poliocephalusLittle GrebeLittle GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisAustralasian GrebeAustralasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiaeMadagascar GrebeMadagascar GrebeTachybaptus pelzelniiLeast GrebeLeast GrebeTachybaptus dominicusPied-billed GrebePied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWhite-tufted GrebeWhite-tufted GrebeRollandia rollandTiticaca GrebeTiticaca GrebeRollandia micropteraGreat GrebeGreat GrebePodiceps majorRed-necked GrebeRed-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
New Zealand Grebe

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Caiden. ↗

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