Little Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis to Tachybaptus ruficollis) is found from southern Scandinavia south through the British Isles and Europe to northern Africa. This is also found commonly in Madagascar and the Comoros. In India this is found widely in freshwater wetlands. This is also known to breed in Nepal. This is also found in central and eastern Asia and even found as far east as Japan (common summer visitor), the Philippines, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.

This grebe is the smallest member of the grebe group. It is generally brown with a pale underside. Its breeding plumage shows a reddish brown neck and head. Its winter plumage is grayish brown with a pale underside. In the non breeding form the cap is dark brown and the dorsal side is also dark brown.

There are nine recognized subspecies. The nominate subspecies, ssp ruficollis, is found from Europe to the Ural Mountains and south into north west Africa. The subspecies iraquensis is found in Iraq and nearby Iran. The subspecies capensis is found from the Caucasus area to Burma (Myanmar), India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), and Africa south of the Sahara.

The subspecies poggei is found from Siberia south to China, Taiwan, and Japan. The subspecies phillipensis and cotabato are found in the Philippines. The subspecies tricolor is found from Celebes (Sulawesi) to New Guinea. The subspecies vulcanorum is found in Indonesia on Java and Timor. The subspecies collaris is found from New Guinea east to the Solomon Islands.

The grebe genus Tachybaptus has five species. This genus is found in North America, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. The least grebe of the New World is only about 8 inches in length. The little grebe found widely in the Old World is only about 10 inches in length.

Grebe family (Podicipedidae)can be placed into the grebe order. Although the Grebes and Loons are frequently combined, these are two rather divergent groups of birds. Grebes are usually fresh water species of water birds with a somewhat duck-like appearance. However, their smaller size, narrow bill and long neck help separate them from the ducks. The feet of the grebe are mounted far back on its body and are useful for swimming. Their tails are almost nonexistent. There are 20 different species of grebes known, and six of these species are found in North America.

Grebe order (Podicipediformes) contains a single family (Podicipedidae). Although the Grebes and Loons are frequently combined, these are two rather divergent groups of birds. Grebes are usually fresh water species of water birds with a somewhat duck-like appearance. However, their smaller size, narrow bill and long neck help separate them from the ducks. The feet of the grebe are mounted far back on its body and are useful for swimming. Their tails are almost nonexistent. There are 20 different species of grebes known, and six of these species are found in North America. Some modern authors have moved the grebe family into the Ciconiiformes order of birds which includes many of the shorebirds.

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

NEW SEARCH