# Least Grebe

Scientific name: Tachybaptus dominicus

Bird group: [grebe](https://birdsofpuertorico.com/family/grebe)

Canonical source: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/bird/46/Least-Grebe

## Identification

The least grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus), an aquatic bird, is the smallest member of the grebe family. It occurs in the New World from the southwestern United States and Mexico to Argentina, and also on Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles.


## Threats

The least grebe, while a species of least concern, experiences a number of predators, particularly early in life. Large fish species and turtles are reported to take young grebes, and bird-eating raptors, including the bat falcon and the golden eagle, have been observed taking adult birds.


## Distribution and habitat

The Least Grebe occurs from the south-central United States 
through South America including 
the West Indies, where it is 
uncommon on Puerto Rico 
(Raffaele and others 1998). 
It can usually be seen in the 
Caño Tiburones Natural Reserve 
(Oberle 2018). It also occurs on 
Culebra and Vieques Islands 
(Ventosa-Febles and others 
2005), in the latter being an 
extremely rare visitor (Gemmill 
2015). It is found locally in the 
lowlands, and it usually inhabits 
freshwater ponds, canals, 
temporary pools with thick fl oating vegetation (Oberle 2018), 
and freshwater cattail swamps 
(Raffaele and others 1998). The 
atlas fieldwork yielded a total of 
72 records within 38 hexagons 
or 8 percent of the 479 total 
hexagons (see map). Of the 38 
hexagons where this species 
was found, breeding met the 
atlas definition of confirmed in 
26 percent (10) of the hexagons, 
probable in 21 percent (8), and 
possible in 50 percent (19), while 
the species was observed in 3 
percent (1) of the hexagons but 
without evidence of breeding 
(see map).Least Grebe distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones in 
Puerto Rico. Note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.       37Least Grebe/Tigua

## Breeding

Previously published reports indicate that the Least Grebe 
breeds through most of the year, 
but the breeding activity peaks 
from April to May and again 
from September to November 
(Raffaele and others 1998). The 
nest is built over water among 
emergent vegetation (Biaggi 
1997, Raffaele and others 1998). 
Atlas results show that this 
species breeds throughout the 
year with the most breeding activity in May (see chart). 
Results (see table and map) 
show that this species breeds 
mostly in the lowlands within the 
subtropical moist forest life zone 
(62 percent of the hexagons) 
and less commonly within the 
subtropical dry forest life zone 
(35 percent of the hexagons).

## Conservation

The current population trend of the Least Grebe is described as 
stable (Wetlands International 2012). This species is currently 
listed as a species of least 
concern by the IUCN (BirdLife 
International 2016). Locally, this 
species is not listed in any of the 
threatened categories of PRDNER 
and USFWS. In Puerto Rico, the 
Least Grebe has a protected 
habitat in land of 18 percent or 
162 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons where evidence 
of breeding was found for this 
species (908 km2).

Photo: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_046_Im0.png.webp

Distribution map: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_046_Im1.png.webp

Source note: Text is reproduced from this site's published record. Historical conservation statements and taxonomy have not been independently revalidated. See https://birdsofpuertorico.com/about for source credits and limitations.