New Zealand dabchick  (Poliocephalus rufopectus)

The New Zealand dabchick is a small grebe which, like all other grebes, is a highly specialized waterbird. It has mostly dark brown plumage with a line of distinctive fine, silvery feathers on its head. The breast and foreneck has a chestnut tinge, and the underparts are dusky to silvery white. The eyes are pale yellow, and it has a black bill. Non-breeding adults are slightly paler, and males are larger than females and have a longer bill (2) (3) (4). Juveniles have irregular white, pale brown and black stripes on their head and neck, creating a mottled appearance (2). Whilst grebes are inept on land, they are fantastic swimmers and divers. The slim, long neck and small head are perfect for diving when searching for food, as are the lobed, flexible toes, used to propelling and steering underwater (5). The New Zealand dabchick is generally a silent bird, except for an occasional wee-ee-ee call, which gave rise to its Maori name Weweia (6).