Parques de Portugal

<p> <em>Podiceps cristatus</em> (Linnaeus, 1758)</p>

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  • Great crested grebe

  • Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

  • Podicipedidae

  • The great crested grebe is a waterfowl and its the biggest grebe of our country. It has an elongated body, long neck and beak and, in the mating season, a characteristic black crest, which justifies its name, and a brownish red and black stripe on its neck. It has dark brown plumage in the dorsal surface and white on the belly and a pink beak. It can grow to be 51 cm long and have 73 cm span.

  • Ria Formosa Nature Park

    Estuário do Sado Nature Reserve

    Albufeira do Azibo Protected Landscape

  • Norte

    Algarve

    Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

  • Least Concern

  • The great crested grebe lives on lakes, reservoirs or near the coast, using moist areas with reed beds to reproduce. 

  • All year long

  • The great crested grebe feeds on small fish, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates. It obtains its food under water, immersing its whole body or just its head, which justifies the name "mergulhão".

  • The Portuguese population of this species is estimated to be between 300 and 1000 couples.