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Story: Wetland birds

New Zealand dabchick preening

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New Zealand dabchick preening

Grebes and dabchicks have webbing or lobes on each toe, unlike ducks, which have webbing joining their toes together. This New Zealand dabchick or weiweia is lifting one foot out of the water to preen. Dabchicks are much smaller than crested grebes, and lack the head crests and neck ruff. They have silver flecks on the head and back in the breeding season.

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by Brian Chudleigh

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How to cite this page

Christina Troup, Wetland birds – Grebes and dabchicks, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14615/new-zealand-dabchick-preening (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christina Troup, published 1 March 2009.