Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis Scientific name definitions

The Silvery Grebe is generally common and widespread in the southern Andes, as well as in the temperate zone of South America’s southern cone, but distinctly rare and declining in the northern Andes (especially in Ecuador and Colombia). There are two distinct and largely allopatric populations, and these differ in head pattern and color of the face plumes, and the extent to which they exhibit seasonal dimorphism in plumage; it has been suggested that they represent separate species. Like all grebes, the species is found in a variety of aquatic habitats. The Andean form (juninensis) occurs on highland lakes, including hypersaline lakes, but breeds only on freshwater bodies. Nesting is colonial, sometimes in large colonies, with the nests constructed on, and of, floating mats of vegetation. The southern subspecies (nominate occipitalis) breeds in freshwater lakes and ponds, with floating, emergent, and/or fringing vegetation, and also forages on saline Patagonian and Andean lakes alongside flamingos. This taxon is quite migratory; in winter it can be found in large lakes and regularly spends part of the non-breeding season in flocks on nearshore seas. Silvery Grebe is very similar in appearance, especially northern P. o. juninensis, to the closely related, but near-flightless Junin Grebe (Podiceps taczanowskii).