Little Grebe after a dive

TL;DR – Little Grebe, Holy Diver, Tireless Parent

This tiny bird of wetlands brings to mind the name of a heavy metal ballad by the American band Dio.

The Little Grebe lives to dive. To dive is life.

A Little Grebe on its nest in the wetland
A Little Grebe on its nest in the wetland. You can see the tiny chick hidden in its wings

A duck-like waterbird, it is a little sorcerer of the wetland famous for its disappearing acts. One moment it’s there and, in the split second that you have locked focus on it, it’s gone. Dives can last up to 30 seconds!

Little Grebe after a dive
This adult Little Grebe has just surfaced after a dive. Note the blob of water on its back

I photographed this one after it had just resurfaced after a plunge, and you can see a blob of water on its back.

Why, one may ask?

Little Grebes have specially adapted feathers that allow them to dive rapidly and repeatedly with minimal resistance from the water. Their feathers are densely packed and waterproof, and they can adjust their buoyancy by pressing them against their body. They also have narrow wings, large feet, and lobed toes that work like propellers. These specially adapted feet help them to dive and swim, and they appear to skim on the surface like jet-skiers during their elaborate courtship displays.

Little Grebes are devoted parents
Little Grebes are devoted parents, and very patient with their hungry chicks

Little Grebes are devoted parents, breeding during the rainy season when fish are plentiful. They work tirelessly, feeding their ravenous young ones with fish.

Watch this video of a Little Grebe family on a nest in the wetland

And the song I was talking about? It’s called Holy Diver. Black Sabbath fans would know it as an outcome of former frontman Ronnie James Dio’s finest hour.

Beej

Author

  • Beej

    Founder-editor of The Green Ogre, Beej began this blog as a solo writing project in 2006. A communications professional, he has worked as a corporate storyteller, journalist, travel writer, cartoonist and photo-blogger. He was formerly the founder-editor of Yahoo India's travel site.

    View all posts
Newsletter signup

It's more fun when you subscribe.
Great content. Zero spam. And your data stays safe. Promise!

Newsletter signup

It's more fun when you subscribe.
Great content. Zero spam. And your data stays safe. Promise!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.