The Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Features

The little grebe also known as dabchick, is the smallest member of the grebe family that can be observed in Slovenia.

Species	Bird
Living space	Lake, Pond, Streams, Swamp
Size	25 -29 cm
Weight	130 - 235 g

Description

Their summer feathers look completely black, but from close up we can see that their cheeks and necks are rusty brown, their heads and backs are chestnut brown, and their hips and abdomens are only a slightly lighter shade of brown. There is a noticeable yellow spot on their beaks, and the part of their bodies surrounding their tails is greyish. In winter, the colour of their feathers fades. Their backs remain dark brown while their hips, necks and stomachs become light brown. The yellow spot on their beaks fades and can no longer be seen, so their tails become more noticeable as its whiteness is markedly increased. The little grebe is a water bird that dives enthusiastically in search of food. During the warm part of the year, they mainly feed on the larvae of water insects, but will also dive for small crustaceans and molluscs. They are good swimmers allowing them to hunt tadpoles and small adult frogs. Particularly in winter, they can be seen swimming up to the surface with fish in their beaks. Due to their size, they also feel comfortable on smaller bodies of water, as long as the shores are sufficiently overgrown. They nest on lakes, ponds and slowly flowing streams. Their nesting period lasts from April to June. They attach their floating nests made of vegetable matter to forked boughs or vegetation that stretches above the water’s surface. They can be seen throughout our country year round and generally do not relocate.