New Zealand Grebe

New Zealand Grebe
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Podicipediformes
Family:	Podicipedidae
Genus:	Poliocephalus
Species:	P. rufopectus
Binomial name
Poliocephalus rufopectus (Gray, 1843)

The New Zealand Grebe, New Zealand Dabchick, or Weweia, Poliocephalus rufopectus, is a member of the grebe family endemic to New Zealand. This species was formerly present in the lowland lakes of South Island,^[2] but underwent a rapid decline there (for unknown reasons) in the 19th century- the last certain breeding record for this species on South Island was in 1941^[3] . On North Island it is found on the West coast on coastal lakes from North Cape to Pukekohe and from Southern Taranaki to Paraparaumu, on lakes and dams of the central plateau, Gisborne, Hawkes bay and the Wairarapa.^[3] Their diet consists mostly aquatic insects and their larvae, as well as small mollusks such as freshwater snails.^[2] Bigger prey such as fish and freshwater crayfish are sometimes taken.^[3]

References

1. ^ BirdLife International (2004). Poliocephalus rufopectus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 9 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is vulnerable, and the criteria used
2. ^ ^{a b} Andrew Crowe, "Which New Zealand Bird?", Penguin, 2001
3. ^ ^{a b c} Barrie Heather and Hugh Robertson, "The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (revised edition)", Viking, 2005

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet.