White-tufted Grebe
Rollandia rolland
The White-tufted Grebe (Rollandia rolland) is a uncommon greb found in 8 countries, weighing about 324 g. The white-tufted grebe, also known as Rolland's grebe, is a species of grebe in the family Podicipedidae.










About the White-tufted Grebe
The white-tufted grebe, also known as Rolland's grebe, is a species of grebe in the family Podicipedidae. Found in the southern and western South America, its natural habitat is freshwater lakes, ponds and sluggish rivers and streams.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The 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. Adults in breeding plumage have a prominent black crest on the back of their heads. There is a large white tuft of feathers around the ear but otherwise the head, neck and back are black, with a slight greenish sheen, and the feathers of the mantle and back are narrowly bordered with brown.
Where it lives
When to see it
The White-tufted Grebe can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-tufted Grebe?
- The 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. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-tufted Grebe?
- The White-tufted Grebe is a large sized bird weighing about 324 g.
- Where can you see a White-tufted Grebe?
- The White-tufted Grebe occurs in 8 countries, including Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a White-tufted Grebe?
- The White-tufted Grebe is most easily confused with the Titicaca Grebe.
- Is the White-tufted Grebe endangered?
- The White-tufted Grebe is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the White-tufted Grebe for real
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