Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii

Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii

Mantadia N.P., Madagascar

The Madagascar Grebe is distributed throughout Madagascar but is becoming increasingly rare and is currently classified as Vulnerable by Birdlife International. The population is reckoned to be about 3,000. The threats include loss of habitat, destruction of aquatic vegetation by introduced vegetarian fish and entanglement in fishing nets.

It is distinguished from Little Grebe T. ruficollis by the extent of rufous on the neck, the white cheek, the black cap and the lack of white on the bill.

It is found on waterbodies, mainly freshwater, with abundant aquatic vegetation. It feeds on small fish and aquatic insects.

Madagascar Grebe nest, Mantadia N.P., Madagascar, November 2016 - click for larger image

Its nest is a bed of floating vegetation anchored to aquatic plants (See photo 3)

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