During the breeding season the adult's plumage has white streaks over its entire head, giving them the common name of hoary-headed grebe.

[2] Males have two plumage phases: after breeding they lose the buff breast and the white lines on the head, but can usually be identified then by the broad black bar down the nape.

[4] The hoary-headed grebe is usually found away from the shoreline in large open waters, which may be estuarine, brackish or freshwater.

The nests are a floating platform of water weeds, similar to that of the Australasian grebe, and usually some distance out from shore among sparse reeds or other plants, anchored to and at least partly supported by them.

The eggs are concealed under pieces of wet vegetation when the incubating parent leaves so that the nest appears empty.