Southern Silvery Grebe
VU

Southern Silvery Grebe

Podiceps occipitalis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvery_grebe

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Southern Silvery Grebe faces significant pressure from habitat degradation across its Andean lake systems, where mining activities, agricultural runoff, and urban development contaminate water bodies and reduce prey availability. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and water levels in high-altitude lakes, while introduced fish species compete for food resources and may prey on grebe chicks.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Southern Silvery Grebe inhabits high-altitude freshwater lakes and lagoons throughout the Andes, typically at elevations between 3,000-4,500 meters. These birds prefer shallow, reed-fringed waters with abundant aquatic vegetation that supports diverse invertebrate communities essential for feeding.

MARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Podicipedidae

Red-necked GrebeVU

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegena

Unknown
Great Crested GrebeVU

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Unknown
Black-necked GrebeVU

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Unknown

Threatened in Argentina

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Adonis BlueVU

Adonis Blue

Lysandra bellargus

Unknown
CR

Phlebopus bruchii

Declining
CR

Trichomycterus ramosus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Southern Silvery Grebe classified as Vulnerable?
Southern Silvery Grebe is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Southern Silvery Grebe faces significant pressure from habitat degradation across its Andean lake systems, where mining activities, agricultural runoff, and urban development contaminate water bodies and reduce prey availability. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and water levels in high-altitude lakes, while introduced fish species compete for food resources and may prey on grebe chicks.
Where does Southern Silvery Grebe live?
Southern Silvery Grebe occurs in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador (plus 6 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Southern Silvery Grebe?
The main threats to Southern Silvery Grebe are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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