Baby Carrier:
New Zealand Grebe
(Poliocephalus rufopectus)


Within a few hours of hatching, Grebe chicks set sail on their parent’s back.

Either the father or the mother can be the carrier – while the other parent finds food and feeds it to the young. They switch roles every hour or two.

For the first two weeks or so, the chicks are totally hidden by feathers – they slowly become more visible and independent over the following several weeks.

There are many species of Grebes, all of which are water birds and most of which are baby carriers – technically known as “back brooders.”