Australian little grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
Indonesian – Titihan AustraliaDescription: medium-sized (25 cm ) small. Diving duck-like waterbird with lobed feet and a pointed beak, very similar to little grebe but differs in having white underparts and breeding season a black rather than red throat. A chestnut brown stripe behind the eye separates the black crown and nape from the black chin and throat. Iris –white to red; bill –black; feet – olive.
Voice: shrill chattering ‘chee-ee-ee-ee’ similar to little grebe
Distribution and status: from java and bali through lesser sundaes to new Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. A rare local resident in Java and Bali from lowlands to montane lakes.
Habits: frequents lakes, swamps, flooded ricefields etc. where there is clear water and plenty of water plants. Dives under water to feed and at the slightest provocation. Generally single or in small disperse groups. In breeding season birds chase each other, rushing over the water and calling.
Diet: aquatic insects, tadpoles, fish, prawns and the seeds and shoots of aquatic plants.
Breeding: the nest is a floating mass of water plants attached to the surrounding vegetation. Three to five, usually four, whitish eggs are laid. Breeding in west java is recorded for november, for central java in November, March and April. When off the nest the parent covers the eggs with weeds. Young birds ride on the parent’s back.
Race: T.n. javanicus is the western race of the species