Hoary-headed Grebe

Poliocephalus poliocephalus (Jardine & Selby, 1827)

Hoary-headed Grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus, breeds in south-western and south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, and outside the breeding season it is found in Australia and Tasmania apart from the far north-east and south-central areas. It is a grebe of large open waters, including estuaries, brackish water and freshwater, and it may also occur in sheltered coastal seas. Its breeding plumage is marked by silvery-white streaking across the head, which gives the bird its name. It is also recorded from New Zealand, where it is much less common.

Order

Podicipediformes

Family

Podicipedidae — Grebes

Breeding range

Australasia: sw, se Australia and Tasmania

Nonbreeding range

Australasia: Australia and Tasmania (except far ne, sc)