Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

The great crested grebe is widespread throughout most of Europe except the north, inhabiting lakes or large ponds with large beds of reeds and rushes. In northern and eastern parts of the range, birds are migratory, elsewhere resident. They sometimes return to their breeding grounds as early as February, but more usually in March or April. An interesting courtship ceremonial takes place: the partners, separated by several yards, first greet one another by stretching their necks out along the water’s surface. Then they swim towards each other, spreading their crests, nodding their heads and finally embracing each other by rubbing necks. The birds call to each other throughout. Sometimes they dive, surfacing with a piece of greenery in their bills and treading water face to face with heads erect. The nest is made of various aquatic plants brought up from the depths. The female lays three to six eggs which are white at first, but then gradually acquire a brownish hue. Both partners take turns incubating for 25 to 27 days, though the female takes the major share. After the nestlings have dried, they climb onto their parent’s backs and partially conceal themselves under the wings, so to be carried about even through capable of swimming and diving by themselves. The parents feed the young small insects and molluscs; adult birds take mostly insect larvae and fish.

(Migratory, dispersive or resident bird)

Size of egg	46.5-62.7X33.0-39.7 mm
Length	48 cm. Male and female have similar plumage.
Voice	A deep ‘har-arr’ or ‘er-wick’, mainly during the courtship period.