Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Grebes, Loons & Flamingos

Hoary-headed Grebe

Poliocephalus poliocephalus

Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) — Grebes, Loons & Flamingos of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of New Zealand Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

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The Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) is a member of the Podicipedidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 240 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Podicipediformes
Family Podicipedidae Grebes
Genus Poliocephalus
Species poliocephalus

Where it lives

Southwestern, southeastern Australia and Tasmania

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 240 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Podicipedidae
Order: Podicipediformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Australasian Grebe

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Hoary-headed Grebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Hoary-headed Grebe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) belongs to the Podicipedidae family of the order Podicipediformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU sw, se Australia and Tasmania.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 240 g, with a wing length of about 11 cm and a tail of around 2.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².

Songs & calls

Hoary-headed Grebe — Song

Recorded by Marc Anderson Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Hoary-headed Grebe?

The Hoary-headed Grebe is a large bird that weighs around 240 g.

Where does the Hoary-headed Grebe live?

The Hoary-headed Grebe is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU sw, se Australia and Tasmania, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Hoary-headed Grebe belong to?

The Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) belongs to the Podicipedidae family, in the order Podicipediformes.

What does the Hoary-headed Grebe eat?

The Hoary-headed Grebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Hoary-headed Grebe migrate?

The Hoary-headed Grebe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Hoary-headed Grebe endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Hoary-headed Grebe make?

1 real field recording of the Hoary-headed Grebe — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Hoary-headed Grebe's range?

The Hoary-headed Grebe has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².