New Zealand Dabchick
Poliocephalus rufopectus
Silhouette: Tisha Mukherjee · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPodicipediformes (Grebes)
- FamilyPodicipedidae (Grebes)
- GenusPoliocephalus (Hoary-headed and New Zealand Grebes)
- SpeciesPoliocephalus rufopectus (New Zealand Dabchick)
About the New Zealand Dabchick
The New Zealand grebe (Poliocephalus rufopectus), also known as the New Zealand dabchick or weweia, is a member of the grebe family endemic to New Zealand. Poliocephalus rufopectus is an aquatic diving bird in the grebe order.
Poliocephalus rufopectus (G.R.Gray) was originally described by the English ornithologist George Robert Gray as Podiceps rufopectus G.R.Gray, 1843 (in subgenus Poliocephalus). The type specimen was collected by British botanist and scientific collector Andrew Sinclair in New Zealand. P. rufopectus is one of two species in the genus Poliocephalus, with the other being the hoary-headed grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) which is native to Australia.
The New Zealand grebe has dark brown plumage, a small black head with fine silver feathers, a black pointed bill and characteristic yellow eyes. It grows to about 29 cm (11 in), and weighs about 250 g (8.8 oz). Non-breeding individuals have a paler plumage and females tend to be a bit lighter, smaller and have a slightly shorter bill than males.
This grebe species inhabits mainly shallow freshwater lakes, ponds and sheltered inlets. Currently it is found... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of New Zealand Dabchick in Tongariro National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a New Zealand Dabchick in Tongariro National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Dabchick sighting in Tongariro National Park, based on 77 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see New Zealand Dabchick in Tongariro National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for New Zealand Dabchick in Tongariro National Park in our monthly data.