Little Grebe
Photo: Andreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5

Grebes

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

LCLeast Concern
Family
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Order
Podicipediformes

Overview

The little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as the dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The genus name is from Ancient Greek takhus "fast" and bapto "to sink under". The specific ruficollis is from Latin rufus "red" and Modern Latin -collis, "-necked", itself derived from Latin collum "neck".
At 23 to 29 centimetres (9 to 11+1⁄2 inches) in length it is the smallest European, Asian, and African member of its family.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.