Madagascar Little Grebe

The binomial name commemorates the Austrian ornithologist August von Pelzeln.

The Madagascar Little Grebe is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

was a small pond where two Madagascar Little Grebes impressed us in their full breeding plumage. Again, however, it was a primate that stole the show: a small group of Black and White Ruffed Lemurs were feeding on fruits in the tree above us. Despite the fact that they can normally be shy, these ones showed in the open exceedingly well, resembling small panda bears. Birds around here included Broad-billed Rollers, Madagascar Starling, great views of Madagascar Spine-tailed Swift and Forest Fody. More

Madagascar Little Grebe (Tachybaptus pelzelnii) was once common and widespread in many parts of the island; with the pollution and destruction of marshes throughout the island for rice farms, this bird has declined greatly. The introduced tilapia was threatening this species by consuming its food supply. This grebe also hybridizes with the introduced Little Grebe (Collar et al. 1994). The Little Grebe, an African species which has colonized the island, prefers the habitat created by the tilapia, and is now abundant (Langrand 1990). More

Heron, Madagascar Little Grebe, African Pygmy Goose, Red-billed and Hottentot teals, White-faced Duck, and if we are very fortunate, the extremely rare Bernier's Teal. On arrival at the forestry station we should encounter numerous "campsite residents" such as Broad-billed Roller, screeching Lesser Vasa Parrots, Crested Drongo, Madagascar Magpie Robin, Sakalava Weaver, Madagascar Hoopoe, Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher, Madagascar Green Pigeon, and Madagascar Turtle Dove. More