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  • Great crested grebe

Great crested grebe

Great crested grebe (summer plumage)
Great crested grebe (summer plumage)
Great crested grebe (winter plumage)
Great crested grebe (winter plumage)
  • Scientific name: Podiceps cristatus
  • Bird family: Grebes
  • UK conservation status: Green
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Great crested grebe call

Your browser does not support this audio feature.

Marco Dragonetti, Xeno-canto

Key information

The great crested grebe is a delightfully elegant waterbird with ornate head plumes which led to its being hunted for its feathers, almost leading to its extermination from the UK. They dive to feed and also to escape, preferring this to flying. On land they are clumsy because their feet are placed so far back on their bodies. They have an elaborate courtship display in which they rise out of the water and shake their heads. Very young grebes often ride on their parents' backs.

What they eat:

Mainly fish.

Measurements:

Length:
46-51cm
Wingspan:
85-90cm
Weight:
590-1,500g

Population:

UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.
UK breeding:
4,600 pairs
UK wintering:
19,000 individuals

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.

Great crested grebe (summer plumage)

Great crested grebe, summer plumage
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Grey Orange White
Leg colour: Brown
Beak: Black Brown Red Long Powerful Medium thickness
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Urban and suburban Wetland

Great crested grebe (winter plumage)

Great crested grebe winter plumage
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Grey White
Leg colour: Brown
Beak: Black Brown Red Long Powerful Medium thickness
Natural habitats: Marine and intertidal Urban and suburban Wetland

Similar birds:

Red necked grebe, summer plumage
Red-necked grebe
Red throated diver, breeding plumage
Red-throated diver

Where and when to see them

Great crested grebes can be seen in lowland lakes, gravel pits, reservoirs and rivers. Also found along coasts in winter.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
great crested grebe distribution map

Great crested greves can be seen all year round

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

RSPB reserves

  • RSPB Portmore Lough
  • RSPB Ouse Fen
  • RSPB Carsington Water
  • RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes
  • RSPB Rockland Marshes
  • RSPB Hodbarrow
  • RSPB Lochwinnoch

Video

Footage of great crested grebes mirroring in water and at nest site.

Footage of great crested grebes mirroring in water and at nest site.

Great crested grebe video screenshot

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