The dabchick (Podiceps ruficollis) or little grebe is an English divingbird of the grebe (Podicipedidae) family. The dabchick is to be found in ponds and rivers throughout most of the old world, but not in arctic regions. It feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, insects and some plant material. The large nest is built of wet, rotting aquatic plants and may float on the water or rest in shallow water. Research Dabchick
Grebe is the common name of the birds of the genusPodiceps, family Podicipedidae, characterized by a straight conical bill, no tail, a short tarsus, toes flattened, separate, but broadly fringed at their edges by a firm membrane, and legs set so far back that on land the grebe assumes the upright position of the penguin. The geographical distribution of the genus is very wide, these birds haunting seas as well as ponds and rivers. They are excellent swimmers and divers and feed on small fishes, frogs, crustaceans, and insects; and their nests, formed of a large quantity of grass, etc, are generally placed among reeds and sedges, and rise and fall with the water. Five species are British, the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), the little grebe or dabchick (Podiceps ruficollis), the Sclavonian or horned grebe (Podiceps cornutus), the red-neck (Podiceps rubricollis), and the rare eared-grebe (Podiceps auritus). The three last are winter visitors, but the two first remain all the year. Nine species are North American, some of them (crested grebe, horned grebe) being the same as those of Europe. The great crested grebe is about 55 cm long, and has been called the satin grebe from its beautiful silvery breast-plumage, formerly much esteemed as material for ladies' muffs. Research Grebe
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Dabchick
