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| − | [[Image:Great_Crested_Grebe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|nigel+pye|nigel pye}}]] | + | [[Image:Great_Crested_Grebe.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|nigel+pye|nigel pye}}<br />[[Rutland Water]], 2006]] |
;[[:Category:Podiceps|Podiceps]] cristatus | ;[[:Category:Podiceps|Podiceps]] cristatus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | [[Image:Great Crested Grebe328C1181.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Chris+Upson|Chris Upson}}<br />Adult non-breeding <br />Photographed at River Orwell, Ipswich, [[Suffolk]], [[UK]]]] | ||
The largest Old World grebe | The largest Old World grebe | ||
L. 46-51cm<br/> | L. 46-51cm<br/> | ||
| Line 9: | Line 10: | ||
*Long, pinkish bill | *Long, pinkish bill | ||
====Adult breeding==== | ====Adult breeding==== | ||
| − | |||
*Dark greyish brown above | *Dark greyish brown above | ||
*White below | *White below | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
*Olive-green to yellow legs | *Olive-green to yellow legs | ||
====Adult Non-breeding==== | ====Adult Non-breeding==== | ||
| + | [[Image:01GrebeChick1 Pittville 8Sep08.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|AlanR|AlanR}}<br />Juvenile Great Crested Grebe <br /> Photographed at [[Pittville Park]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[UK]]]] | ||
Eurasian birds lose facial ruff and crest and become much duller and greyer<br/> | Eurasian birds lose facial ruff and crest and become much duller and greyer<br/> | ||
[[Africa|African]] and [[Australia|Australasian]] birds show much less seasonal variation. | [[Africa|African]] and [[Australia|Australasian]] birds show much less seasonal variation. | ||
====Juvenile==== | ====Juvenile==== | ||
| − | |||
Similar to non-breeding adult but has striped head and upper neck | Similar to non-breeding adult but has striped head and upper neck | ||
====Flight==== | ====Flight==== | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
====[[Europe]]==== | ====[[Europe]]==== | ||
| + | [[Image:DSC 1587-2b.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Mating display<br />Photo by {{user|pmhowlett|pmhowlett}}<br />Cardiff, South [[Wales]], March 2014]] | ||
Breeds across most of the continent from [[Iberia]] and the [[British Isles]] eastwards ranging north to central parts of [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] and south to the Mediterranean coast and [[Turkey]]. Range extends eastwards across [[Asia]] to [[China]] and locally in [[Japan]] but absent from most of [[Arabia]], [[India]] and South-East [[Asia]]. | Breeds across most of the continent from [[Iberia]] and the [[British Isles]] eastwards ranging north to central parts of [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] and south to the Mediterranean coast and [[Turkey]]. Range extends eastwards across [[Asia]] to [[China]] and locally in [[Japan]] but absent from most of [[Arabia]], [[India]] and South-East [[Asia]]. | ||
| Line 42: | Line 43: | ||
====[[Australia|Australasia]]==== | ====[[Australia|Australasia]]==== | ||
| − | Range is confined mainly to the east in central an southern [[Queensland]], [[New South Wales]] and southern [[South Australia]], but also occurs in [[Tasmania]] and the south-western corner of [[Western Australia]]. In [[New Zealand]] occurs on | + | Range is confined mainly to the east in central an southern [[Queensland]], [[New South Wales]] and southern [[South Australia]], but also occurs in [[Tasmania]] and the south-western corner of [[Western Australia]]. In [[New Zealand]] occurs on South Island and most numerous in South Westland. |
Resident in Western [[Europe]] but migratory to the east and more widespread around the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas in winter. East Asian birds winter in southern [[Japan]] and southern [[China]]. [[Australia|Australian]] birds are probably resident or nomadic. | Resident in Western [[Europe]] but migratory to the east and more widespread around the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas in winter. East Asian birds winter in southern [[Japan]] and southern [[China]]. [[Australia|Australian]] birds are probably resident or nomadic. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Three subspecies are usually recognised: | + | [[Image:Bf little un onboard.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult carrying young on its back<br />Photo by {{user|dandsblair|dandsblair}}<br />[[Leighton Moss]], [[Lancashire]], June 2013 ]] |
| − | #Nominate race in Eurasia and North Africa | + | ====Subspecies==== |
| + | Three subspecies are usually recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
| + | #Nominate race in Eurasia and North [[Africa]] | ||
#''infuscatus'' (smaller and darker, lacks white over eye and reduced seasonal variation) in sub-Saharan Africa | #''infuscatus'' (smaller and darker, lacks white over eye and reduced seasonal variation) in sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| − | #''australis'' (reduced seasonal variation) in Australia and New Zealand | + | #''australis'' (reduced seasonal variation) in [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Fresh or brackish waters, usually medium-large with emergent vegetation, often on artificial reservoirs and gravel pits. Moves to estuaries, sheltered bays and coastal inlets in winter.<br/> | Fresh or brackish waters, usually medium-large with emergent vegetation, often on artificial reservoirs and gravel pits. Moves to estuaries, sheltered bays and coastal inlets in winter.<br/> | ||
| Line 55: | Line 58: | ||
East African birds breed mainly on mountain lakes. | East African birds breed mainly on mountain lakes. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | [[Image:IMG 5592-Edit.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo by {{user|Florian+Andronache|Florian Andronache}}<br />[[Romania]]]] | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
Breeds April-September in Europe, throughout the year in Africa and November-January in Australia. | Breeds April-September in Europe, throughout the year in Africa and November-January in Australia. | ||
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<flashmp3>Podiceps cristatus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Podiceps cristatus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Podiceps cristatus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Podiceps cristatus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Podiceps+cristatus}} | {{GSearch|Podiceps+cristatus}} | ||
Revision as of 00:17, 18 July 2014
- Podiceps cristatus
Identification
The largest Old World grebe
L. 46-51cm
Ws. 87cm
- Large
- Long neck
- Long, pinkish bill
Adult breeding
- Dark greyish brown above
- White below
- Rufous flank
- Black crown and crest
- Ear coverts form facial ruff
- Chestnut tipped with black
- Black lores
- Face, chin, throat and foreneck white
- Black hindneck
- Grey sides of neck
- Red iris
- Olive-green to yellow legs
Adult Non-breeding
Eurasian birds lose facial ruff and crest and become much duller and greyer
African and Australasian birds show much less seasonal variation.
Juvenile
Similar to non-breeding adult but has striped head and upper neck
Flight
Shows bold white scapulars and leading and trailing edges to wing.
Distribution
A widepread Old World grebe breeding in Eurasia, Africa and Australasia.
Europe
Breeds across most of the continent from Iberia and the British Isles eastwards ranging north to central parts of Sweden and Finland and south to the Mediterranean coast and Turkey. Range extends eastwards across Asia to China and locally in Japan but absent from most of Arabia, India and South-East Asia.
Africa
Breeds, or formerly bred, at a few scattered localities in the north in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia but more widespread, although discontinuously, south of the Sahara. Breeds in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, and in the south in Namibia and South Africa.
Australasia
Range is confined mainly to the east in central an southern Queensland, New South Wales and southern South Australia, but also occurs in Tasmania and the south-western corner of Western Australia. In New Zealand occurs on South Island and most numerous in South Westland.
Resident in Western Europe but migratory to the east and more widespread around the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas in winter. East Asian birds winter in southern Japan and southern China. Australian birds are probably resident or nomadic.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Three subspecies are usually recognised[1]:
- Nominate race in Eurasia and North Africa
- infuscatus (smaller and darker, lacks white over eye and reduced seasonal variation) in sub-Saharan Africa
- australis (reduced seasonal variation) in Australia and New Zealand
Habitat
Fresh or brackish waters, usually medium-large with emergent vegetation, often on artificial reservoirs and gravel pits. Moves to estuaries, sheltered bays and coastal inlets in winter.
East African birds breed mainly on mountain lakes.
Behaviour
Breeding
Breeds April-September in Europe, throughout the year in Africa and November-January in Australia.
Courtship display is lengthy, elaborate and involves paired dancing and ritualised gift-giving of bits of plant matter.
Nest is a heap of vegetation in reedbeds, sometimes anchored to emergent plants or on the bottom in shallow water.
Eggs: 4 (sometimes 3-6), white initially soon becoming stained (55 x 37mm, in Australia 50 x 35mm). Incubated by both sexes for 25-26 days. Young tended by both sexes, independent at 42 days but may remain with parents for up to 72 days. Single-or double-brooded.
Diet
Fish and aquatic insects and their larvae, crustaceans and molluscs caught in 30 second dives.
Vocalisation
A range of barking, trumpeting, wailing and growling calls
<flashmp3>Podiceps cristatus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Great Crested Grebe. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Great_Crested_Grebe
External Links
