# Great Crested Grebe (*Podiceps cristatus*) The Great Crested Grebe is a beautiful bird with a fancy crest on its head. It loves to dive underwater to catch fish and build floating nests on lakes. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Lakes ![Great Crested Grebe](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424735/objects/6133.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Crested Grebe has a sleek body with a long, thin neck, a dark cap, and a pure white belly. Its most distinctive features are the dark double crests (ears) and chestnut-red ruff framing its white face, along with striking red eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Podicipediformes - **Family:** Podicipedidae - **Genus:** Podiceps ## Interesting facts - Great Crested Grebes have lobed feet, not fully webbed, perfect for powerful swimming! - Grebes eat their own feathers to help digest fish and protect their insides! - Their nests are floating platforms of vegetation, anchored to underwater plants! - Tiny grebe chicks often ride on their parents' backs, even during dives! ## Special abilities - **Mirror Dance:** Great Crested Grebe can perform complex, synchronized courtship dances because of their strong pair bonds that help them attract a mate. - **Deep Dive:** Great Crested Grebe can dive deep underwater for extended periods because of their streamlined body that helps them hunt fish effectively. - **Back Ride:** Great Crested Grebe has a strong back and waterproof feathers that help them safely carry their chicks, protecting them from predators and cold. - **Hydro-propulsion:** Great Crested Grebe can swim incredibly fast underwater because of their powerful, lobed feet positioned far back on their body that help them propel. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 46-51 cm - **Wingspan:** 85-90 cm - **Weight:** 0.8-1.4 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-7 - **Incubation:** 25-29 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds mainly hunt fish and aquatic insects by diving underwater. - **Age differences:** Young chicks eat tiny invertebrates, then gradually switch to fish as they grow. - **Primary Foods:** small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans, tadpoles - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-eagle) (*Haliaeetus albicilla*) — Large eagles can prey on adult grebes near water. - **Eaten by:** European Otter (*Lutra lutra*) — Otters may ambush grebes from underwater or shore. - **Hunts:** [Roach](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roach) (*Rutilus rutilus*) — Often hunts roach, a common small fish in lakes. - **Hunts:** [European Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) — A skilled hunter of perch, a common prey fish. - **Shelter:** [Common Reed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-reed) (*Phragmites australis*) — Builds floating nests anchored among dense reed beds. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching these birds from a distance to not disturb their nests or habitat. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Crested Grebe? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Great Crested Grebe? 46-51 cm ### What is Great Crested Grebe's wingspan? 85-90 cm ### How much does Great Crested Grebe weigh? 0.8-1.4 kg ### How long does Great Crested Grebe live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Great Crested Grebe move? 60 km/h ### What does Great Crested Grebe eat? These birds mainly hunt fish and aquatic insects by diving underwater. ### Where is Great Crested Grebe usually found? Lakes ## Where to spot - [Colchester Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colchester-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo - [Zoo Dortmund](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-dortmund) — North Rhine-Westphalia, DE · Zoo - [Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/birmingham-wildlife-conservation-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Diergaarde Blijdorp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/diergaarde-blijdorp) — South Holland, NL · Zoo - [Naturpark Insel Usedom](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/usedom-island-nature-park) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Mecklenburgische Schweiz und Kummerower See](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mecklenburgische-schweiz-kummerower-see-nature-park) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park [View all places to see Great Crested Grebe](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-crested-grebe) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Great Crested Grebe: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-crested-grebe)