Basic Information
Scientific classification
- Chinese name: White-breasted Grebe
- Scientific names: White-tufted Grebe, Rolland Grebe, Chilean Grebe, Falkland Grebe, Rollandia rolland, Podocips rolland, White-tufted Grebe
- Classification: Waterfowl
- Family and Genus: Order Pterygota, Family Pterygota, Genus *Pterygota*
Vital signs data
- Body length: Approximately 31 cm
- Weight: No verification information available.
- Lifespan: No verification data available.
Significant features
Distribution and Habitat
They inhabit the vegetation of freshwater lakes and marshes, spend almost their entire lives in the water, and often live in groups.
Appearance
The White-tufted Grebe is a type of waterfowl, measuring 31 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly blackish-brown, with a black head and neck, and a white tuft of feathers behind the eye, hence its name. It has a black, straight, laterally compressed beak with a pointed tip; the nostrils are open and located near the base of the beak; the wings are short, with 12 primary flight feathers, the first vestigial, and the fifth secondary flight feather missing. The tail has only some short, soft down feathers, or almost none. The feet are positioned near the rump. The tarsi are laterally compressed, adapted for diving; all four toes have broad, webbed edges; the claws are blunt and broad, the inner edge of the middle toe is serrated, and the hind toe is short and positioned higher than the other toes, or may be absent. The plumage is short and dense, providing excellent moisture resistance; the feathers have accessory feathers, and the preen gland is feathered; the sexes are similar. The skull is either cleft palate or fully nasal; both lack basal pterygoid processes; the digestive system lacks a cecum; chicks are precocial.
Detailed introduction
The White-tufted Grebe, scientifically known as *Rolllandia rolland* or *Podiceps rolland*, is a type of waterfowl.
The White-tailed Grebe is not a good flier. It swims using its feet, not its wings, and rarely walks on land. It can dive to forage, typically diving to depths of only 1-4 meters. It lives in ponds and slow-flowing streams, nesting on the surface of moving water. Adults often dive to the bottom to prey on small fish and aquatic invertebrates.
When breeding, the White-tufted Grebe builds a floating nest in the grassy areas near the water, using reeds, weeds, and some clay. Each nest contains 2-7 white eggs, often stained with dirt. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs. The eggs hatch after about 25 days. The chicks are precocial, covered in dense downy feathers, and can move freely. For the first 2-3 weeks after hatching, the parents often carry the chicks on their backs; if startled and diving, they tuck them under their wings.
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