Madagascar grebe  (Tachybaptus pelzelnii)

Description

This bird, like all other grebes, is a specialized waterbird, that is virtually unable to move on land, but is an excellent swimmer and diver. It is a small grebe, with soft, dense plumage that is white underneath and dark brown-grey on its upperparts (4) (5). When breeding, it has a distinctive facial pattern; the forehead and crown, down to the height of the eyes, are rusty black, which continues in a narrow line down the back of the neck. The throat and chin form a pale grey bib, which is separated by a white stripe from the red chestnut feathers behind the cheeks (2) (3). Non-breeding adults and juveniles are both duller and paler and lack the chestnut cheeks (2). Their small head and thin neck are perfectly streamlined for diving when searching for food, and its lobed, flexible toes are used to propel and steer them underwater, making grebes extremely agile swimmers (4). It has a grey to yellow bill and yellowish green feet (3).

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