Southern Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis

Chilean name: Blanquillo

Silvery Grebe, Lago Villarica, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image Chile

The Silvery Grebe was divided into two sub-species: P. o. occipitalis which is distributed in central and southern Chile and adjacent areas of Argentina; and P. o. juninensis which is distributed in the Andes from Colombia to northern Chile. The HBW and Birdlife Checklist has split these into two separate species: Northern Silvery Grebe P. juninensis and Southern Silvery Grebe P. occipitalis.

Silvery Grebe, Lago Villarica, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image It is found on freshwater lakes and ponds but can be found at sea outside the breeding season. Photos 1 to 3 were taken on Lago Villarica and photo 4 in the sea at Caulin on the northern coast of Chiloe.

It feeds mainly on insects, insect larvae and small shellfish.

Silvery Grebe, Lago Villarica, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image It is light grey with a white neck and underparts. The bill is upturned and the eye is a startling red colour. It has a grey head with a few golden plumes on the side as seen in photos 1 to 3. Breeding plumage has a fuller yellow tuft on the ear as is beginning to show in photo 4.
Silvery Grebe, Caulin, Chiloe, Chile, November 2005 - click for larger image There is a distribution map showing both species on xeno-canto.

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