Crested Grèbe

The crested grèbe ( Podiceps cristatus ) is a water bird of the family of the Podicipédidés. It is largest of all Grèbes. Its bridal parade is known for its complexity.

Name and systematic position

The term of grèbe is used since at least the 16th century to designate the members of this family of bird. the term Podiceps is made of two Greek words, podex , the tail and pes , the feet, the legs. As for cristatus , it is a Latin word meaning Crête, Aigrette, Huppe (what joined the crested name of grèbe).

There exist 3 subspecies of grèbe crested:

Podiceps cristatus australis (Gould 1844): Australia, New Zealand,
Podiceps cristatus cristatus (Linnaeus 1758): the North-West of the Europe, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, is and southern Asia,
Podiceps cristatus infuscatus (Salvadori 1884): is and southern Africa

Description

Measurements

It is a Grèbe from 46 to 56 cm length with a scale from 75 to 90 cm, heavy between 700 and: 1200 G. It is largest of the family.

General aspect and internuptial

There is no sexual Dimorphisme at this species. This bird presents a black, short cap in winter season. The back is dark and the sides present russet-red reflections. The chest, the throat, the face and the belly are white in any season, which distinguishes it from the Grèbe jougris. The neck is long and fine, the rosy nozzle in the shape of dagger. Its dark legs have lobed toes, as at all the grèbes.

Bridal plumage

In spring, at the time of the season of Nesting, the birds of the two sexes are decorated tufts of russet-red feathers orange with black points on the side of the head, and the cap of black feathers developed in a double Huppe. The feathers of the cheeks and crested are érectiles, characteristic used at the time of the bridal parade.

Aspect of the youthful ones

The youthful ones are recognizable thanks to black bands on the head, the cheeks and the neck. They do not have the crested one yet. Their body is grisâtre.

Behavior

Flight

The grèbe is not at ease in flight, it is necessary a long dash for him to take off. It is it even less with ground. It passes the essence of its time on water, swimming or plongeant.
It flies rather low, with fast beats of wings, neck and wide legs and slightly falling. One can then see a broad spot the white on upper part and former of the wing, as well as a white mirror on the posterior part , . During the flight, it often sometimes happens to him to use its legs like rudder.

Migration

The populations of the north or with the east of its surface of distribution, where freezing solidifies the water levels, are migrating. They will spend the winter more to the south or the west, in areas closer to the Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean. The flight is done of night. The departures of autumn are done on variable date, according to the climate of the area and the weather conditions; the returns of spring take place about March or April; the eggs are sometimes left only a moment, but they are then covered with plants in decomposition to hold them with the heat. After the blossoming, the chicks Nidifuge S, with the striped plumage, are nourished by the two parents, who often transport them on their back. It become independent to 71 or 79 days.

It can live from 10 to 15 years.

Cry

This noisy bird, especially at the time of the bridal parade, emits croakings nasillards (kekekekek) and cawings with the sound of Crécelle (eeerrrrr). To hear its cry, to see on this page (Direct link).

Distribution and habitat

In Europe, one finds it safe everywhere in the north of the Scandinavia. Those alive in the east or in the north of Europe migrate towards the west or the south. He also lives in Australia, New Zealand, and equatorial Africa, of the east and the south.

The crested grèbe attends, the summer, the lakes, the ponds, the marshes, the artificial tanks and more rarely the peaceful rivers. He prefers the not very deep water surrounded by a paludous fringe of vegetation.

The winter, the Migrateur S are in the lagoons, calm water salted, Estuaire S, bays, Golfe S sheltered. There are sometimes gatherings gathering of the thousands of birds, for example on the IJsselmeer (Netherlands), on the Swiss lakes (in particular the Neuchâtel Lake) and on the Black Sea. Some of these birds were observed in attended sites, like city parks or marinas.

Statute and safeguarding

This elegant bird was driven out a long time for its feathers, especially those of the chest and the head, which were used inter alia as ornament of hat. Since the stop of this hunting, the species was restored, and its world population is estimated nowadays at between: 530000 and 1,7 million individuals, and European population with more: 300000 couples. For this reason, IUCN class this species in the " category; concern mineure".

AEWA however makes a more moderate estimate by distinguishing the populations: if the populations of the North and the North-West of Europe, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean are classified only of category C (populations more cash: 100000 individuals), the populations of the Caspian Sea and the south-west of the Asia are classified in A2 (Populations roughly cash between: 10000 and: 25000 individuals) and that of south and East Africa in A1c (Populations of less: 10000 individuals).

Although it does not appear in the list of the species threatened in Europe, this species is classified in appendix III of the Convention of Bern since the 3/1/2002.

The European Agence for the environment regards this species as protected since 1994.

Curiosities

Very many countries emitted stamps with the effigy of this bird. To see some of these stamps, click here.

Bonds and references

Images and vidéos

bridal Parade of two Grèbes adults ( more vidéos on Internet Bird Collection )
Two photograph galleries out of Photosnature 33: 1 | 2
photo Gallery on aves.be
Flickr Gallery on Avibase
crested Grèbe killing a snake which threatens its nest
photographs of crested Grèbe with its small
various photographs of crested Grèbe

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