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Great Grebe
Podiceps major

DESCRIPTION:
Great Grebe
Macá Grande
Podiceps major
Length: 670mm. Sexes alike. Bill dark plumbeous grey; iris crimson red with a thin white ring around pupil; front part of head, dark plumbeous grey; rest of head shiny black with greenish sheen, more intense on crown and crest; neck entirely red chestnut, except for a shiny black line down to back; above dark brown with subtle greenish sheen; wing coverts likewise; primaries, light brown with inner vane white; secondaries white, with pale ferruginous brown spotting on edge of outer vexillum; axillaries white with pale rusty edging; fore breast reddish chestnut; rest of chest and belly pure white with silky appearance; vent greyish brown; crissum red chestnut, flanks as above with reddish chestnut spots. Legs, dark grey, unevenly blotched greyish white. Juvenile or immature plumage: overall paler, crown and head brownish grey; nape and hind neck blackish brown; sides of head greyish white speckled with dark greyish brown; throat and chin, white; neck grey and rusty.
Habits and behaviour: in the Patagonian Andean region, the Great Grebe is known as Huala, an onomatopoeic term after one of its most common calls, consisting of far-carrying long, pitiful and loud notes. Common in ponds, lakes and rivers, it is easily identifiable for its colours, large size, silhouette and habits. Frequently encountered in pairs,
at lakes where food is plentiful; several pairs, each some distance apart, in their own territories where they raise and live. Disputes break out when territories are invaded. When chicks become juveniles family groups consisting of parents and three or more immature can be seen. The young remain with their parents until they become independent.
It feeds both on the surface of the water and diving; diet consists mainly of fish, molluscs, crustaceans, insects, larvae, water plant buds and feathers. An excellent swimmer and diver, it will rarely fly to escape from danger, most likely it will take a long dive that may last up to 30 seconds, and reappear a short distance away.
If danger persists, it dives several times. When at rest or when sleeping, it places its neck on its back, keeping the bill forward and the tail upright; on land, if ever, it walks with difficulty. During the breeding season, both sexes play an active role in an elaborate complex courtship ritual. Floating nests are built with water plants in late spring. The female lays 3-6 white elliptic-shaped eggs; if, for whatever reason, the parent leaves the nest, it is covered with water plants to conceal the eggs. Eggs, initially white, turn greenish cream due to the moisture and the plant materials used to build the nest. Both sexes take turns to incubate and raise the chicks. This species has two races or subspecies: Podiceps major major and Podiceps major navasi. The above description is for the race Podiceps major navasi.
Range: the species is broadly distributed in Patagonia. Podiceps major navasi is common in the grate lakes and water bodies in the Patagonian Andean region from Neuquén to Tierra del Fuego.
The nominate or monotypic race, Podiceps major major, is common in northern and central Argentina, but may reach Patagonia where it occurs mainly in coastal waters all along the Patagonian Atlantic shoreline. It is described as follows: Length: 600mm. Sexes alike. Bill yellowish horny to greenish grey, upper mandible dark brown; iris light chestnut; head, ash grey; feathers on back of head and nape develop into a brownish black crest with a greenish sheen; chin and throat ash grey; foreneck and sides red chestnut, back of neck grey to green brownish black; lower portion of foreneck, breast and underparts pure satin white. Sides of chest red chestnut; flanks, greyish brown with red chestnut spots; above greyish brown with a hint of greenish sheen; around vent brownish grey; crissum brownish grey. Legs light greenish grey.
Range: this race has been repeatedly observed in the coastal waters of Golfo Nuevo, Puerto Madryn, province of Chubut; sometimes in groups of more than 30 individuals, and in many other parts along the coastline in this province and in Tierra del Fuego. South of Cabo San Pablo a group of several hundreds of these Grebes was sighted. On said occasion, a specimen that was collected showed features similar to Podiceps major major. The main differences between these two races are: Podiceps major navasi is larger, the bill is lead grey, the iris crimson red, the division between the black colour of head and the red chestnut of neck is distinct, the red chestnut colouring extends from the neck to the fore chest; above is darker; legs are dark grey.
Illustrated Handbook of the Birds of Patagonia
Kindless: Kovacs Family
 
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Photographs: Mariano Diez Peña


Birding Patagonia • Birdwatcing in Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina and Chile.
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Photographs on the website: Mariano Diez Peña