22 Mar 2024

Critter of the Week: weweia New Zealand dabchick

From the collecton Critter of the Week

This week's critter is the weweia New Zealand dabchick, also known as the New Zealand grebe. If the word 'grebe' gives you flashbacks (positive or otherwise) to last year's Bird of the Century champion, rest assured that this grebe is a little different. Unlike the puteketeke, the weweia is only found in Aotearoa and prefers to keep its neck foliage sleek and simple. They spend their whole life on the water. They build raft-like nests and their chicks spend the first few weeks of their life floating on their parents' backs.