Black crown with two feather tufts that resemble horns. It dives under the water and spears fish with its long bill. Find premium, high-resolution stock photography at Getty Images. Behavior and reproduction: Great crested grebes can be found in groups of up to ten thousand, although they are also found alone or in pairs. 2005. Folk names include "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe". They lose these markings when they become adults. Western and Clark's are only grebes having structure in neck allowing rapid spear-like thrusting of bill; may be useful in spearing fish, but use of this behavior is not well known. Such a design is the mark of a confirmed fish-eater, and indeed Great Crested Grebes, in contrast to other grebes, catch many more fish than invertebrates. Antonyms for grebe. Beautiful morning sunlight on a peaceful lake. 15 words related to grebe: podicipitiform seabird, genus Podiceps, Podiceps, great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus, Podiceps grisegena, red-necked grebe.... What are synonyms for grebe? Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) This is the largest of the European grebes, with the lengthiest neck and the longest, most dagger-like bill. Stanevičius, V., S. Švažas. Another is the Great Crested Grebe, whose courtship dances were first described by Julian Huxley. The Eurasian subspecies is distributed over most of northern Europe and Asia, breeding from Greenland to western China. They dive to feed and also to escape, preferring this to flying. They are best known for the striking courtship displays of some species and for the silky plumage of the underparts, which formerly was much used Close up showing crest and head shaking in great detail. Black above and white below with grey-brown sides. Two Great Crested Grebes start their mating/courtship ritual dance shaking their heads from side to side. Both enjoy the brief moment. Bill is pink-grey. Feeding Behavior. Forages by diving from surface and swimming underwater, propelled mainly by feet. Slow motion filmed at 60fps. Another is the Great Crested Grebe, whose courtship dances were first described by Julian Huxley. As a family, grebes are known for their showy moves. As a family, grebes are known for their showy moves. On land they are clumsy because their feet are … It was described in 1831 by Christian Ludwig Brehm.There are currently three accepted subspecies, including the nominate subspecies.Its breeding plumage features a distinctive ochre-coloured plumage which extends behind its eye and over its ear coverts. R. Brooks Childress and Leon A. Bennun, Sexual character intensity and its relationship to breeding timing, fecundity and mate choice in the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus, Journal of Avian Biology, 33, 1, (23-30), (2002). View top-quality stock photos of Germany Great Crested Grebe In Courtship Display. The young are distinctive because their heads are striped black and white. This species participates in elaborate mating … Note the courtesies afterwards. Bird Study, 1: 53-56. Written by Ben Vallack on ... my involvment with the WWT wetland nature reserve in London I was lucky enough to film the extrodianry display of these breeding Great Crested Grebes. The horned grebe or Slavonian grebe (Podiceps auritus) is a relatively small waterbird in the family Podicipedidae.There are two known subspecies: P. a. auritus, which breeds in Eurasia, and P. a. cornutus, which breeds in North America. Clark's grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) is a North American waterbird species in the grebe family. Also black and red-brown feather tufts on side of neck. The Great Crested Grebe has dark brown wings, satin white underparts, a black crown, dark olive-green feet and, during flight, prominent white patches are visible on its wings. British Birds, 67: 413-437. Common. The great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of the grebe family of water birds noted for its elaborate mating display. In that case, there are also pair-bonding dances throughout the mating season, and through the whole period of raising the young. In winter, this is whiter than most grebes, with white above the eye, and a pink bill. Great Crested Grebes perform similar courtship dances in their Eurasian breeding grounds, and here in North America, Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes get so caught up in romance that they run on water. The graceful great crested grebe is a familiar sight on our lakes and reservoirs, and is well-known for its elaborate courtship dance, during which it rises vertically out of the water and shakes its head. The Western grebe is an aggressive hunter. It dives under the water and spears fish with its long bill. The Great Crested Grebe is a medium to large aquatic bird, and is the largest of the grebes. Diet: Great crested grebes eat mostly large fish, but also eat squid, frogs, snails, and other invertebrates, animals without backbones. While in 20152016 a value of 48% for the little grebe and - 51.99% for the great crested grebe followed by swimming, whereas the other activities occupy only one small percentage in the assessment of the diurnal activities of the two species. Great Crested Grebe: Gadwall-sized waterbird with slender neck and thin, pointed bill.