British Birds, 67: 413-437. Forages by diving from surface and swimming underwater, propelled mainly by feet. The Western grebe is an aggressive hunter. It dives under the water and spears fish with its long bill. As a family, grebes are known for their showy moves. 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 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. As a family, grebes are known for their showy moves. 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). Another is the Great Crested Grebe, whose courtship dances were first described by Julian Huxley. Folk names include "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe". Feeding Behavior. 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 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. Close up showing crest and head shaking in great detail. great crested grebe and 51.25% for the little grebe over the year 2013-2014. Common. They lose these markings when they become adults. Great crested grebe courtship display, mating and nesting. In that case there are also pair-bonding dances throughout the mating season, and through the whole period of raising the young. 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. On land they are clumsy because their feet are … Behavior: The courtship display of the Western Grebe is among the most elaborate breeding rituals of North American wildlife. 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. Grebe, (order Podicipediformes), any member of an order of foot-propelled diving birds containing a single family, Podicipedidae, with about 20 species. The Great crested grebe is a large graceful water bird noted for its elaborate mating display. White patches in wings. In cases like the Great Crested Grebe, the pairs form life (or at least long-lasting) partnerships. In that case, there are also pair-bonding dances throughout the mating season, and through the whole period of raising the young. The Great Crested Grebe is a medium to large aquatic bird, and is the largest of the grebes. Slow motion filmed at 60fps. Bird Study, 1: 53-56. Behavior: The courtship display of the Western Grebe is among the most elaborate breeding rituals of North American wildlife. Note the courtesies afterwards. Antonyms for grebe. Until the 1980s, it was thought to be a pale morph of the western grebe, which it resembles in size, range, and behavior.Intermediates between the two species are known. Also black and red-brown feather tufts on side of neck. Diet: Great crested grebes eat mostly large fish, but also eat squid, frogs, snails, and other invertebrates, animals without backbones. In winter, this is whiter than most grebes, with white above the eye, and a pink bill. Find premium, high-resolution stock photography at Getty Images. Its scientific name comes from Latin: the genus name Podiceps is from podicis, "vent" and pes, "foot", and is a reference to the placement of a grebe's legs towards the rear of its body; the species name, cristatus, means "crested".