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Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Alternate name(s): "Crested Grebe", "Tippet Grebe", "Loon", "Gaunt"; Misnomer: "Carr Goose" German name(s): "Haubentaucher" Size: 46-51 cm; wing span 59-73 cm Body mass: 0.8-1.5 kg Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.65-0.85

Europe: Family Group 2 Family Group 2 Table Common Loon Red-throated Loon Mute Swan Whooper Swan Greylag Goose Pink-footed Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Canada Goose Barnacle Goose Brent Goose Red-breasted Goose Common Eider Common Scoter Velvet Scoter Common Goldeneye Common Shelduck Ruddy Shelduck Northern Shoveler Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Garganey Northern Pintail Mallard Eurasian Teal Gadwall Common Pochard Red-crested Pochard Ferruginous Duck White-headed Duck Tufted Duck Ring-necked Duck Smew Red-breasted Merganser Goosander Great Crested Grebe Black-necked Grebe Little Grebe Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Great Crested Grebes are large grebes. Both sexes have the same plumage, but breeding and non-breeding plumages are slightly different. The non-breeding plumage is rather plain, with a dark grey-brown back (cap, nape of neck, mantle, wings) and a whiteish-grey front (face, frontal neck, breast & belly). The crest is very small in the non-breeding season. During the breeding season the black crest is much more prominent, especially in combination with the black-edged, rufous-brown neck frill that Great Crested Grebes feature then. The eyes are red, the bill is yellow and pointed; in the breeding season it takes on a darker, orange hue. Juveniles have a bold stripe pattern on their heads and necks.

Taxonomy, classification See Great Crested Grebe at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Great Crested Grebe is available HERE . There are 3 extant races of Great Crested Grebes, which are a widely-distributed partly migratory, partly sedentary species. Nominate race "cristatus" is found in Europe, southern, central and eastern Asia; race "infuscatus" resides in southern Africa and race "australis" populates parts of Australia and New Zealand. Great Crested Grebes, nominate race "cristatus", are a partly migratory species. Only in central, western and southern Europe are they sedentary. In the northern parts of Europe, up to southern Scandinavia and eastern Europe towards central Asia, they only spend the breeding season and then migrate to winter quarters along the northern Mediterranean coastline, in Turkey and Iran/Iraq. Great Crested Grebes found in Australia have now been separated as race "australis". They, and the African race "infuscatus", are mainly sedentary. Great Crested Grebes have a strong preference for fresh water aquatic habitats, such as rivers and lakes.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "cristatus" J. Pires reports finding Great Crested Grebes, nominate race "cristatus", occasionally in various parts of Portugal. They are sometimes found breeding near Mora, Evora, Portugal, in particular in small lagoons in which no large, predatory fish are present. D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Great Crested Grebe, nominate race "cristatus", in wetlands on the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in May 2017. M. Thomas reports spotting Great Crested Grebes, nominate race "cristatus", at Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, in April 2019. M. Eaton found Great Crested Grebes, nominate race "cristatus", in Hyde Park, London, England, in September 2019. H. Dahlem-Senger spotted a Great Crested Grebes, nominate race "cristatus", near Schierstein, Hessen, Germany, in May 2022. More were found at Lake Constance, Germany, in September 2022. Others were found nesting at Lac d'Echternach, Echternach, Luxembourg, in May 2024. In May 2026 a pair was found nesting at the Edersee, Hessen, Germany. A. Sarok reports finding Great Crested Grebes, nominate race "cristatus", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. In the past we used to see Great Crested Grebes, nominate race "cristatus", infrequently in Germany, e.g. near Mölln, Schleswig-Holstein, in July 1991. Race "australis" Great Crested Grebes, race "australis", are found by us semi-regularly in Australia.

Photos

Race "cristatus"

ADULT

PAIR

BREEDING

Lateral view of a pair of Great Crested Grebes in breeding plumage performing their courtship display - here the "head shaking ceremony" (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a pair of Great Crested Grebes in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Near-frontal view of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage; note the frill and ear tufts (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)

Lateral view of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Lateral view of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a Great Crested Grebe in worn breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Lateral view from above of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Lateral view from above of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage; note the partially webbed feet
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Lateral view from above of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage, here seen preening (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Great Crested Grebe in late breeding plumage (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Lake Constance, Germany, September 2022]

Near-dorsal view from above of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Dorsal view from above of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Dorsal view of a Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Schierstein, Hessen, Germany, May 2022]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Great Crested Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Herdade do Esporao, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Evora, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of two Great Crested Grebes in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Lateral view of a Great Crested Grebe in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Embalse de Cazalegas, Cazalegas, Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain, December 2019]

Dorsal view of a Great Crested Grebe in non-breeding plumage flapping its wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Herdade do Esporao, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Evora, Portugal, November 2021]

Lateral view of Great Crested Grebes in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Avis, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of two juvenile Great Crested Grebes (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of a Great Crested Grebe chick developing its juvenile plumage and colours (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2020]

Pair of Great Crested Grebes with their three chicks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira do Monte do Porto, Arraiolos, Evora, Portugal, June 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Great Crested Grebe chick (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Lake Constance, Germany, September 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a resting Great Crested Grebe chick (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Lake Constance, Germany, September 2022]

Young Great Crested Grebe chick in the wake of one of its parents, possibly trying to hop onboard (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: May - Aug

Eggs: 3 - 5

Incubation period: 25 - 31 days

Fledging age: Precocial

Great Crested Grebe chicks leave their nest at a very young age, soon after the last egg has hatched. They can fly at about 70-80 days of age.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket

Material: Aquatic plant material

Height above ground: N/A

Two Great Crested Grebes near their nest; the eggs are covered (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Great Crested Grebe preparing to incubate after a break (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Great Crested Grebe sitting down on its eggs (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Frontal view of a Great Crested Grebe on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of Great Crested Grebe on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of Great Crested Grebe on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Great Crested Grebe fixing something on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Eggs

Size: 55 x 36 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

Close-up view of a Great Crested Grebe nest with 3 eggs (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Close-up view of a Great Crested Grebe nest with 3 eggs (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Great Crested Grebe off its nest, leaving a single egg uncovered (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Later two eggs were present (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

In parts of their range (southern, western, central Europe), part of the Great Crested Grebe population is sedentary. Others, and in other parts of the continent, migrate to breed further east, from the catchment of the Danube, Poland to southern Scandinavia eastward.

Pair of Great Crested Grebes in breeding plumage performing their courtship display - here the "head shaking ceremony"
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Pair of Great Crested Grebes in breeding plumage performing their courtship display (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Pair of Great Crested Grebes in breeding plumage performing their courtship display (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Pair of Great Crested Grebes in breeding plumage performing their courtship display (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Part of a pair of Great Crested Grebes' courtship ritual is the "weed ceremony", in which both partners submerge, collect plant material, meet each other, rise up and head-shake together. This is usually followed by copulation on a prepared weed platform. This type of behaviour is one example of a bonding ritual.

This Great Crested Grebe was seen collectin plant material to build the pair's weed platform (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Here again the two Great Crested Grebes in breeding plumage; click on image to see them next to a male Tufted Duck
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

"Game of Thrones" a la Great Crested Grebe vs. Eurasian Coot? (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

crgrebe_jp_20200314.m4a	cristatus (Portugal)	Contact calls? Q&A	© JP
crgrebe_20200316.m4a	australis (NW NSW)	Contact calls? Q&A (+ White-plumed Honeyeater)	© MD
crgrebe_20251012.m4a	australis (NW NSW)	Calling partner?	© MD
crgrebe_20161218.mp3	australis (NW NSW)	?	© MD
crgrebe_20161218_2.mp3	australis (NW NSW)	?	© MD
crgrebe_cp_20260111.m4a	australis (WA)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© CP
crgrebe_cp_20221123.mp3	australis (WA)	Begging calls (chicks)	© CP

More Great Crested Grebe sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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