Thegreat crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of thegrebe family ofwater birds. The bird is characterised by its distinctive appearance, featuring striking black, orange-brown, and white plumage, and elaboratecourtship display that involves synchronised dances and displays.
The great crested grebe wasformally described by the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeus in 1758 in thetenth edition of hisSystema Naturae under thebinomial nameColymbus cristatus.[2] It is now thetype species of the genusPodiceps that was erected by the English naturalistJohn Latham in 1787.[3][4][5]: 148 Thetype locality is Sweden.[5]: 151 The scientific name comes fromLatin: the genus namePodiceps is frompodicis, "vent" andpes, "foot", and is a reference to the placement of a grebe's legs towards the rear of its body; the specific name,cristatus, means "crested".[6]
The great crested grebe is the largest species of grebe in theOld World, though some larger species occur in the Americas. They measure 46–51 cm (18–20 in) long with a 59–73 cm (23–29 in) wingspan and weigh 0.9 to 1.5 kg (2.0 to 3.3 lb).[7][8] It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations. In winter, this is whiter than most grebes, with white above the eye, and a pink bill. Birds resident in warmer tropical and subtropical regions (particularly in subspeciesP. c. infuscatus andP. c. australis) such as Kenya and parts of Australia retain breeding plumage all or almost all of the year, with reduced or no winter plumage.[9]: 89 [10]
The call is a loud barkingrah-rah-rah. They can also produce a clickingkek call, and deep growls.[11]
The chicks, like most grebe chicks, have boldly striped heads, with alternating black and white stripes; they are often colloquially called "humbugs" from their resemblance tohumbug sweets.[12][13] They lose these markings as they mature during their first winter.
The great crested grebe breeds in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes. The subspeciesP. c. cristatus is found across Europe and east across thePalearctic. It is resident in the milder west of its range, butmigrates from the colder regions. It winters on freshwater lakes and reservoirs or the coast. The African subspeciesP. c. infuscatus and theAustralasian subspeciesP. c. australis are mainly sedentary.
The great crested grebe has an elaborate mating display. Like all grebes, it nests on the water's edge. The nest is built by both sexes. Theclutch averages four chalky-white eggs which average 54 mm × 37 mm (2.1 in × 1.5 in) in size and 42 g (1.5 oz) in weight. Incubation is by both parents and begins as soon as the first egg is laid. The eggs hatch asynchronously after 27 to 29 days. Theprecocial young are cared for and fed by both parents.[9]: 87–88
Young grebes are capable of swimming and diving almost at hatching. The adults teach these skills to their young by carrying them on their back and diving, leaving the chicks to float on the surface; they then re-emerge a few feet away so that the chicks may swim back onto them.
A great crested grebe head in the coat of arms ofKauvatsa, Finland
This species was hunted almost toextinction in the United Kingdom in the 19th century for its head plumes, which were used to decorate ladies' hats and garments. TheRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds was set up to help protect this species, which is again a common sight.[14]
The great crested grebe and its behaviour was the subject of one of the landmark publications in avianethology,Julian Huxley's 1914 paper on "The Courtship‐habits of the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)".[15][16]
Conservation efforts have been taking place on New Zealand'sLake Wānaka since 2013.[17][18]
In November 2023, the comedianJohn Oliver highlighted New Zealand'sBird of the Year campaign in aLast Week Tonight episode and declared himself the "campaign manager" for the bird, which is also known in New Zealand by itsMāori namepūteketeke.[19][20] The bird was announced as the winner of the competition with the alliteration "Pūteketeke pandemonium prevails".[21]
^Burnie, D.; Wilson, D.E., eds. (2005).Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife.DK Adult.ISBN0-7894-7764-5.
^abcCramp, Stanley, ed. (1977). "Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe".Handbook of the Birds of Europe the Middle East and North Africa: The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. I: Ostrich to Ducks. Oxford:Oxford University Press. pp. 78–89.ISBN978-0-19-857358-6.
^Zimmerman, Dale A.; Pearson, David J.; Turner, Donald A. (2001).Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania (Revised reprint ed.). London: Christopher Helm. p. 269.
^Burkhardt Jr, R.W. (1992). "Huxley and the Rise of Ethology".Julian Huxley: Biologist and Statesman of Science. Houston, Texas:Rice University Press. pp. 127–149.
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