Maori divers

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Maori divers
New Zealand dabchick.jpg

Maori diver ( Poliocephalus rufopectus )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Grebes (Podicipediformes)
Family : Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Genre : Poliocephalus
Type : Maori divers
Scientific name
Poliocephalus rufopectus
( Gray , 1843)

The Maori diver ( Māori weweia ; poliocephalus rufopectus ) is a type of Lappentaucher the endemic in New Zealand occurs.

features

The Maori diver is a typical diver in stature. The plumage is dark brown, the small head has delicate silver feathers. The beak is black and pointed and the eyes are yellow. It reaches sizes around 29 cm and a weight of approx. 250 g. Outside the breeding season, the plumage is lighter and the females are generally slightly lighter, smaller and have a slightly shorter beak than the males.

Adult Maori diver in Western Springs, Auckland

distribution

The Maori diver mainly inhabits shallow freshwater lakes, ponds and sheltered bays. The main distribution area is North Island , where it occurs on the lakes of the west coast from North Cape to Pukekohe and from South Taranaki to Paraparaumu , as well as on ponds of the Volcanic Plateau , Gisborne , Hawke Bay and Wairarapa . The species used to be common in the lowland lakes of South Iceland , but quickly disappeared in the 19th century for unknown reasons. The last regularly recorded brood in South Island took place in 1941. In 2012 another pair brood near Takaka.

behavior

The freshwater diving birds usually only fly at night while they spend the day in the water. In case of danger, they go under or swim away. In autumn and winter they form small groups. During the breeding season they are usually only found in pairs. They defend their territories aggressively and only during the breeding season or in the event of danger do they make soft sounds.

nutrition

The food mainly consists of aquatic insects and their larvae, as well as water snails. occasionally they also prey on crustaceans and fish. They catch their prey underwater and either eat or peck from the surface of the water.

Brood

The breeding season is from June to March. An average of 2–3 eggs are laid in a nest made of floating plant material in the bank vegetation and incubated by both parents for 22–23 days. The chicks flee the nest . They swim and dive but take a few weeks to fly. Both parents lead and feed the chicks for approximately 70 days. Until the adult plumage is fully developed, the young birds have irregular stripes on the head and neck.

protection

The species is endemic to New Zealand and only distributed on North Island. In 1994 the IUCN classified the species as endangered, but due to conservation measures, the population has recovered and is estimated at 1,900-2,000 birds. Therefore, it was classified as Near Threatened in 2016 . Human influences have even had a positive effect after dams and water reservoirs offer additional living space.

Single receipts

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Hugh Robertson, Barrie Heather: The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand . Penguin, 1999.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g New Zealand dabchick . Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  3. ^ A b c d Barrie Heather, Hugh Robertson: The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (revised edition). Viking 2005.
  4. ^ S. Marchant, PJ (Eds.) Higgins: Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 1, ratites to ducks; Part A, Ratites to petrels . Oxford University Press, Melbourne 1990, p. 107.
  5. ^ A b Andrew Crowe: Which New Zealand Bird? Penguin 2001.
  6. ^ BirdLife International (2015). Poliocephalus rufopectus . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015. International Union for Conservation of Nature.22696592
  7. ^ S. Chambers: Birds of New Zealand - Locality Guide , 3rd. Edition, Arun Books, Orewa, New Zealand 2009.
  8. ↑ Poliocephalus rufopectus (New Zealand Dabchick, New Zealand Grebe) . Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ New Zealand Grebe (Poliocephalus rufopectus) - BirdLife species factsheet . Retrieved April 12, 2017.

literature

  • S. Chambers: Birds of New Zealand - Locality Guide, 3rd. Edition, Arun Books, Orewa, New Zealand 2009.
  • Barrie Heather, Hugh Robertson: The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (revised edition). Viking 2005.

Web links