Podiceps gallardoi
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_grebe
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Hooded Grebe faces severe population decline primarily due to introduced American mink predation, which devastates breeding colonies by consuming eggs, chicks, and adults. Climate change has reduced water levels in the high-altitude lakes of Patagonia where the species breeds, while invasive rainbow trout compete for food resources and alter lake ecosystems. Wind farm development in the species' limited range poses additional collision risks during migration.
Habitat
The Hooded Grebe inhabits high-altitude alkaline lakes and lagoons in the Patagonian steppe of southern Argentina, typically at elevations between 300-1,200 meters. During winter, the species migrates to coastal estuaries and sheltered marine bays along the Atlantic coast.
