The Little Grebe: Close Up HD Footage (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

The Little Grebe, known to scientists as Tachybaptus ruficollis, is a small water bird you might spot on ponds and lakes across the UK. These cute little fellas are about the size of a blackbird, making them one of the smallest water birds around. They're pretty good swimmers and can dive underwater for up to half a minute to catch small fish and insects.
In summer, Little Grebes have a reddish-brown neck and cheeks, which is why some people call them "dabchicks". But in winter, they change to a duller grey-brown colour. They're a bit shy and like to hide in reeds near the water's edge.
These birds make floating nests out of plants, which is quite clever. When danger's near, they'll cover their eggs with wet plants to hide them. Little Grebes don't fly much, but when they do, it's usually at night. They make a funny trilling sound, a bit like a horse whinnying, which you might hear if you're near their habitat.

Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/little-grebe/