Photo: Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) — Grebes, Loons & Flamingos of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a member of the Podicipedidae family found in Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 731 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Podicipediformes
- Family Podicipedidae Grebes
- Genus Podiceps
- Species cristatus
Where it lives
Temperate Eurasia, locally northwestern India, to northeastern Russia, northeastern China and north-central Japan; northeastern, eastern, southern Africa; Australia and South I. (New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 731 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Podicipedidae
- Order
- Podicipediformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Great Crested Grebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Great Crested Grebe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) belongs to the Podicipedidae family of the order Podicipediformes. Its range spans Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF, OR, AU temperate Eurasia, locally nw India, to ne Russia, ne China and nc Japan; ne, e, s Africa; Australia and South I. (New Zealand).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 731 g, with a wing length of about 18.4 cm and a tail of around 4.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 19.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Great Crested Grebe?
The Great Crested Grebe is a large bird that weighs around 731 g.
Where does the Great Crested Grebe live?
The Great Crested Grebe is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF, OR, AU temperate Eurasia, locally nw India, to ne Russia, ne China and nc Japan; ne, e, s Africa; Australia and South I. (New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Great Crested Grebe belong to?
The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) belongs to the Podicipedidae family, in the order Podicipediformes.
What does the Great Crested Grebe eat?
The Great Crested Grebe hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Great Crested Grebe migrate?
The Great Crested Grebe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Great Crested Grebe endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Great Crested Grebe make?
1 real field recording of the Great Crested Grebe — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Great Crested Grebe's range?
The Great Crested Grebe has a mapped global range of about 19.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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