The little grebe, also known as the dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The genus name is from Ancient Greek takhus "fast" and bapto "to sink under". The specific ruficollis is from Latin rufus "red" and Modern Latin -collis, "-necked", itself derived from Latin collum "neck".
Region
Europe, Africa, and Asia
Typical Environment
Favors small to medium freshwater bodies with abundant emergent vegetation such as reeds and rushes, including ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-flowing rivers. It also uses reservoirs, gravel pits, rice paddies, and canals where cover is available. During winter or when breeding sites freeze, it may move to larger lakes, sheltered estuaries, or coastal lagoons. Nests are floating platforms anchored to vegetation in quiet, well-vegetated waters.
Altitude Range
0–3000 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the dabchick, the little grebe is a compact diving bird that can sink beneath the surface in an instant. Its genus name combines Greek for “fast” and “to sink,” reflecting its agile diving habits. Adults often swallow their own feathers and feed them to chicks, which helps protect the stomach from sharp fish bones. Downy chicks frequently ride on a parent’s back for warmth and safety.
Temperament
secretive and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; reluctant flier that prefers to dive
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs during breeding, becoming more gregarious in winter on larger waters. Builds a floating nest concealed in vegetation; both sexes take part in nest building and incubation. Chicks are precocial and often ride on the backs of the adults, especially soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Voice is a sharp, whinnying trill and repeated ‘wit-wit’ or ‘trreee’ notes that carry far over water. Calls are frequent during courtship and territorial displays, often answered antiphonally by a mate.
Plumage
Compact, dark brown grebe with a velvety texture; in breeding plumage the neck and cheeks turn rich rufous with a contrasting darker crown and back, while nonbreeding birds are duller brown-gray with paler underparts.
Diet
Feeds mainly by diving for aquatic invertebrates such as insect larvae, beetles, and crustaceans, along with small fish, tadpoles, and occasionally amphibians. Prey is often swallowed underwater or brought to the surface and manipulated. Like other grebes, it ingests feathers and forms pellets, aiding digestion and protecting the stomach from hard parts.
Preferred Environment
Forages along vegetated margins of ponds, quiet river backwaters, and reedbeds where it can dive and re-emerge under cover. In open water it keeps close to patches of vegetation or flotsam for concealment.
