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Titicaca Grebe

Rollandia microptera

Endangered · IUCN Red List

ENEndangeredFishWetlandPlatform nestLarge · 706 g
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 1
Photo: Wairambar Rainforest · CC BY 4.0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 2
Photo: Lio Torrez · CC BY 4.0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 3
Photo: Lio Torrez · CC BY 4.0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 4
Photo: Sebastián de Jesús Herrera Buenfil · CC BY 4.0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 5
Photo: Sebastián de Jesús Herrera Buenfil · CC BY 4.0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 6
Photo: SkippingShoe · CC BY 4.0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 7
Photo: Ruth Gutiérrez Oliveros · CC0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 8
Photo: Ruth Gutiérrez Oliveros · CC0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 9
Photo: Ruth Gutiérrez Oliveros · CC0
Titicaca Grebe (Rollandia microptera), photo 10
Photo: Ruth Gutiérrez Oliveros · CC0

ID tip

This is a mid-sized grebe, varying from 28 to 45 cm in overall length. It weighs up to 600 g. Its coloration is unmistakable. The only grebe species it somewhat resembles is the red-necked grebe, which is not found in South America. The only congener, the white-tufted grebe, does not look very similar. The color pattern of the Titicaca grebe is altogether similar to that of the red-necked grebe, but it has a darker belly, and a white (not light grey) throat patch that runs down the neck nearly to the breast. Due to the short wings, the rufous flanks can usually be seen.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Titicaca Grebe

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Titicaca Grebe

Regular range

The map shades 2 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Bolivia Peru

About the Titicaca Grebe

The Titicaca grebe, also known as the Titicaca flightless grebe or short-winged grebe, is a flightless species of grebe found on the altiplano of Peru and Bolivia. As its name implies, its main population occurs on Lake Titicaca. Lake Uru Uru and Poopó, the Rio Desaguadero, and small lakes that connect to Lake Titicaca in wet years, serve as "spillovers" territory. In the past, the population was larger and several of these lakes – such as Lakes Umayo and Arapa – apparently had and may still have permanent large colonies. It is sometimes placed in Podiceps or a monotypic genus Centropelma. Its local name is zampullín del Titicaca.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

White-tufted Grebe (Rollandia rolland) White-tufted GrebeRollandia rollandThe male and female white-tufted grebe look alike and are between 24 and 36 cm (9.4–14.2 in) in length, with lower and medium measurements being typical for the South American mainland populations and upper measurements typical for the Falkland population.

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