Hoary-headed Grebe

1. Silvery-white streaks on the head during breeding season.

2. Dark cap below the eye in non-breeding adults, with pale cheeks and neck.

3. Juveniles have striped faces and a white chin.

These grebes feed mainly on small aquatic arthropods, diving underwater for their prey and surfacing after short periods. They are diurnal, feeding mostly during the day, but will forage at the surface in low light. Hoary-headed Grebes are social, often forming large flocks and sometimes nesting in colonies. Their nests are floating platforms anchored to aquatic plants, usually built away from shore. Both parents incubate the clutch, which typically contains 2–5 eggs concealed under wet vegetation when unattended. Breeding mostly occurs from August to January, triggered by rainfall and rising water levels.

Hoary-headed Grebes are widespread in Australia and Tasmania, but generally absent from the central arid interior. They prefer large, open bodies of freshwater or brackish water and avoid densely vegetated areas. In winter, they can be found in huge flocks on inland lakes, bays, and estuaries, and sometimes appear in New Zealand as rare visitors. They often keep away from the shoreline and are more likely than other grebes to be seen flying between waterbodies, especially when disturbed or searching for new wetlands.