Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Least Concern
With its striking crest and mesmerising courtship dance, this aquatic bird turns lakes into nature's most captivating ballrooms.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Great Crested Grebe is a striking waterbird with a slender neck and distinctive black double crest. Its back is brown, contrasting with a bright white front. The face features a black-and-white pattern, complemented by a reddish-orange ruff around the neck during breeding season.

Juveniles lack the crest and have striped heads. Both sexes look similar, with breeding plumage being more vibrant. In winter, the crest reduces, and the ruff becomes less prominent.

Size

Length

46cm to 51cm

Wingspan

59cm to 73cm

Weight

750g to 1.45kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Black Rufous

Beak Colour

Pink Grey

Leg Colour

Green

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Great Crested Grebe can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Great Crested Grebe is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Great Crested Grebes inhabit large, open freshwater bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, and slow-flowing rivers. They prefer waters with abundant aquatic vegetation for nesting. Their range spans across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.

In the UK, they are widespread residents, found year-round on suitable water bodies. During winter, some birds move to coastal areas. In North America, they are rare visitors to Alaska and western Canada.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Great Crested Grebe. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Non-breeding
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Albania Algeria Angola Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bulgaria China Croatia Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Egypt Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hong Kong Hungary India Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Japan Jordan Kenya Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Moldova Monaco Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands North Korea Norway Pakistan Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine Zambia Zimbabwe
Species that are present in the area during their breeding season
Australia Gabon Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Mongolia New Zealand Russia South Africa Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan
Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season
Afghanistan Bahrain Cyprus Israel Liechtenstein Malta Saudi Arabia
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
Burundi Eswatini Faroe Islands Gambia Gibraltar Iceland Indonesia Lesotho Mali Nigeria Oman Senegal United Arab Emirates

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Great Crested Grebe displays remarkable agility in water, with excellent swimming and diving abilities. Their capacity to adjust buoyancy and perform intricate courtship dances demonstrates high manoeuvrability.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not exceptionally strong for their size, Great Crested Grebes possess sufficient strength to dive and catch fish. Their ability to carry chicks on their backs also indicates moderate strength.

Adaptability 75

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These birds show good adaptability, inhabiting various freshwater bodies and even moving to coastal areas in winter. Their partial migratory behaviour and ability to thrive in different climates further demonstrate adaptability.

Aggressiveness 55

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Great Crested Grebes are generally not highly aggressive, but they do exhibit territorial behaviour during breeding season. Their elaborate courtship displays suggest a preference for ritual over aggression in mate selection.

Endurance 70

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Their ability to dive for prey and perform energetic courtship displays indicates good endurance. The long period of parental care (up to 10 weeks) also suggests considerable stamina. However, as they are not long-distance migrants, their endurance may not be exceptional compared to some other bird species.

Diet

Great Crested Grebes primarily feed on fish, diving underwater to catch their prey. They also consume aquatic insects, molluscs, and crustaceans.

They will occasionally feed by submerging their heads, although as expert swimmers and divers, they will normally disappear completely below the surface and can remain thus for an average of up to 30 seconds.

These birds have been observed swallowing their own feathers, possibly to protect their digestive system from sharp fish bones.

Behaviour

Great Crested Grebes are excellent swimmers and divers, often seen gliding gracefully across water surfaces. They perform elaborate courtship displays, including the famous 'weed dance' where pairs rise out of the water chest-to-chest, shaking their heads. These birds are generally monogamous and territorial during breeding season.

Vocalisation

Great Crested Grebes are generally quiet outside the breeding season. During courtship and nesting, they produce a variety of calls, including a loud, guttural 'gorrr' or 'korrr'. Pairs often duet with a series of 'rah-rah' calls. Alarm calls are sharp and resemble a dog's bark.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding season for Great Crested Grebes typically begins in spring, with elaborate courtship displays preceding pair formation. These displays include head-shaking, weed-presenting, and the famous 'penguin dance'.

Nests are floating platforms of aquatic vegetation, usually anchored to reeds or submerged branches. Females lay 3-4 chalky blue eggs, which become stained brown over time.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 27-29 days. The chicks are precocial, often seen riding on their parents' backs. They fledge after 71-79 days but may be fed by their parents for up to 10 weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

While the Great Crested Grebe is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss and water pollution. Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetland habitats and maintaining water quality in lakes and reservoirs. Climate change may also affect their distribution and breeding success in the future.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

915,000 - 1,400,000 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for them on large, open bodies of freshwater
  • Observe their distinctive silhouette with an S-shaped neck
  • Listen for their loud, guttural calls during the breeding season
  • In the UK, visit reservoirs and lakes year-round for sightings
  • Use binoculars to spot their elaborate courtship displays in spring
  • Rarely seen in flight, if startled, they prefer to dive below the surface to escape or avoid predators.
  • Being a water bird, they spend almost all of their lives on the water and are uncomfortable on land, being unable to walk properly or support their own weight. If they venture onto land, they are forced almost to drag themselves along, unable to stand upright. Their legs are set very far back on their body, rendering successful balance impossible.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Crested Grebe

Family:

Podicipedidae

Average Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Predators

Main predators include large birds of prey, such as eagles and large gulls, as well as foxes and mink that may raid nests.

Did You Know?

  1. Great Crested Grebes eat their own feathers to form a protective lining in their stomachs.
  2. They can adjust their buoyancy to sink vertically in water, with only their head remaining above the surface.
  3. Chicks often ride on their parents' backs, even diving with them.

References

  1. 1

    website: BirdLife International. 2019. Podiceps cristatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22696602A154250080.

    View source
  2. 2

    report, 2015: Wetlands International

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