Titicaca flightless grebe

This is a mid-sized grebe, varying from 28-45 cm in overall length. It weighs up to 600 g. Its coloration is unmistakable. The only grebe species it somewhat resembles is the unrelated Red-necked Grebe which is not found in South America. The only congener, the White-tufted Grebe, does not look very similar. The color pattern of the Titicaca Grebe is altogether similar to that of the Red-necked Grebe, but it has a darker belly, and a white throat patch that runs down the neck nearly to the breast. Due to the short wings, the rufous flanks can usually be seen. The ornamental plumes on the head are a vestigial version of those of the White-tufted Grebe, but dark. Iris and the lower bill are yellow. Juveniles and non-breeding adults are duller, lack the ornamental plumes, and in the case of the former have rufous stripes on the sides of the head and more white on the neck, so that the rufous breast does not show in swimming birds.

The Titicaca flightless grebe is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Titicaca Flightless Grebe occurs in a habitat mosaic in relatively shallow waters (up to about 10 m/35 ft deep). The reed belt is found in water of up to 4 m (13 ft) deep and constitutes the breeding habitat. It is made up mainly of Totora (Schoenoplectus californicus ssp. tatora). Other plants are the underwater Myriophyllum elatinoides and Hydrocharitaceae water weeds, and the floating duckweeds and Azolla. Potamogeton constitute the dominant underwater vegetation in the deeper parts, down to 14 m (some 45 ft). More

* Titicaca Flightless Grebe videos on the Internet Bird Collection * BirdLife Species Factsheet. Retrieved 2006-JUN-12. * IUCN RangeMap * (Spanish)Zambullidor del Titicaca. Article and photo at Casa del Corregidor. More

* Titicaca Flightless Grebe, Rollandia microptera : This grebe is found on freshwater lakes on the altiplano of Peru and Bolivia, including Lake Titicaca. It is classified as Endangered, with a population of less than 750. More

estimate of the total population of Titicaca Flightless Grebes on Lake Titicaca, astandardized monitoring programme will be required in order (1) to provide a baseline for the interpretation of future population trends in the context of impacts generated by human activities and (2) to aid in future management decisions for the long-term conservation of the species. More

The Titicaca Flightless Grebe (Rollandia microptera) is a grebe found on the altiplano of Peru and Bolivia. As its name implies, its main population occurs on Lake Titicaca. Lake Uru Uru and Poopo, the Rio Desaguadero, and small lakes that connect to Lake Titicaca in wet years, serve as "spillovers" territory. In the past, the population was larger and several of these lakes - such as Lakes Umayo and Arapa - apparently had and may still have permanent large colonies (BirdLife International 2006). More