New Zealand Dabchick

Taxobox
name = New Zealand Dabchick
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_width = 250px
trend = down
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Podicipediformes
familia = Podicipedidae
genus = "Poliocephalus"
species = "P. rufopectus"
binomial = "Poliocephalus rufopectus"
binomial_authority = (Gray, 1843)

The New Zealand Dabchick, "Poliocephalus rufopectus", or Weweia, is a member of the grebe family endemic to New Zealand. This species was formerly present in the lowland lakes of South Island,Andrew Crowe, "Which New Zealand Bird?", Penguin, 2001] 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 Barrie Heather and Hugh Robertson, "The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (revised edition)", Viking, 20005] . 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. Barrie Heather and Hugh Robertson, "The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (revised edition)", Viking, 20005] Their diet consists mostly aquatic insects and their larvae, as well as small mollusks such as freshwater snails.Andrew Crowe, "Which New Zealand Bird?", Penguin, 2001] Bigger prey such as fish and freshwater crayfish are sometimes taken. Barrie Heather and Hugh Robertson, "The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (revised edition)", Viking, 20005]

References

* Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is vulnerable, and the criteria used

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3636&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet.]