Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Photo by nigel pye

Range

A widepread Old World grebe breeding in Eurasia, Africa and Australasia. In 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. In 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. Australian 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.

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.

Identification

The largest Old World grebe. Adult breeding: dark greyish brown above and white below with rufous flanks. Crown and crest black, ear-coverts form facial ruff, basally chestnut and tipped with black. Lores black but remainder of face, chin, throat and foreneck white. Hindneck black and sides of neck grey. Iris red, bill pinkish, legs olive-green to yellow. 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: as non-breeding adult but has striped head and upper neck. Flight: shows bold white scapulars and leading and trailing edges to wing. Large size, long neck and long, pinkish bill identify this species at all times.

Length 46-51cm. Wingspan 87cm.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are usually recognised. Nominate race in Eurasia and North Africa, infuscatus (smaller and darker, lacks white over eye and reduced seasonal variation) in sub-Saharan Africa and australis (reduced seasonal variation) in Australia and New Zealand.

Breeding

Breeds April-September in Europe, throughout the year in Africa and November-January in Australia. 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.

Bird Song

A range of barking, trumpeting, wailing and growling calls <flashmp3>Podiceps cristatus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
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External Links

Search for photos of Great Crested Grebe in the gallery

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