Hoary-headed Grebe

Hoary-headed Grebe

Poliocephalus poliocephalus

Silhouette: Tisha Mukherjee · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
6 Verified sightings at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park From 2019 to 2026
942 Verified sightings across all 13 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Hoary-headed Grebe

The hoary-headed grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) is a member of the grebe family. It breeds in southern parts of Australia; it winters throughout the island of Tasmania. The bird takes its name from the silvery-white streaking on its black head. It is common in Australia, with a population of about 500,000. Its habitat is similar to that of the Australasian grebe.

The hoary-headed grebe is a fairly small dark grey and white grebe. It has a brown eye and a black patch under the chin, and a narrow black streak down the back of the neck. During the breeding season the adult's plumage has white streaks over its entire head, giving them the common name of hoary-headed grebe. Juveniles have a white chin and throat and a striped face. Males have two plumage phases: after breeding they lose the buff breast and the white lines on the head, but can usually be identified then by the broad black bar down the nape.

The hoary-headed grebe is found in all states and territories of Australia. It is generally absent from the central arid regions of Australia. The hoary-headed grebe is usually found away from the shoreline in large open waters, which... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Australasian Grebe
LC

Australasian Grebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
2 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
3 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
4 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
5 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
6 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
7 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
8 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
9 Flinders Chase 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
10 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
11 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
12 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
13 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Hoary-headed Grebe in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Hoary-headed Grebe sighting in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Hoary-headed Grebe in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Hoary-headed Grebe in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in our monthly data.

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