The grebe family Podicipedidae is the only member of the Podicipediformes order. They have no close relatives – perhaps flamingos are the closest. They have large feet with lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, although they can run for a short distance, they are prone to falling over, since they have their feet placed far back on the body. Grebes have narrow wings, and some species are reluctant to fly. They respond to danger by diving rather than flying. They vary from 23 to 71 cm. Bills vary from short and thick to long and pointed, depending on the diet, which ranges from fish to freshwater insects and crustaceans. Grebes make floating nests of plant material concealed among reeds on the surface of the water.

Grebes have unusual plumage. It is dense and waterproof, and on the underside the feathers are at right-angles to the skin, sticking straight out to begin with and curling at the tip. By pressing their feathers against the body, grebes can adjust their buoyancy. Often, they swim low in the water with just the head and neck exposed. In the non-breeding season, grebes are plain-coloured in dark browns and whites. However, most have ornate and distinctive breeding plumages, often developing chestnut markings on the head area, and perform elaborate display rituals. The young are often striped and retain some of their juvenile plumage even after reaching full size.

[abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Podiceps

Grebe, Eared aka Black-necked Grebe  Podiceps nigricollis   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2) Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California 3) Alan D. Wilson  - Near Logan Lake, British Columbia


Grebe, Great-crested Podiceps cristatus   Found: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia
Photographed by:  1) Marco Serra   2, 3) Dick Daniels - New Zealand    4) Dick - New Zealand  5) Lukasz Lukasik.



Grebe, Horned aka Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Biloxi, Mississippi  2) Dick - Great Britain 2, 3) Dick - Great Britain
    4) Mke Baird at Morro Bay, California


Grebe, Red-necked  Podiceps grisegena  Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Donna Dewhurst USFWS - Anchorage, Alaska 3) Martin Olsson - Denmark  4) Hilary Chambers - England



Genus Tachybaptus

Grebe, Little Tachybaptus ruficollis   Found: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia
Photographed by:  1) BS ThurnerHof  2) ) Roger Sanderson   3) Dick Daniels - Tanzania