Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe Birds Aves Podicipediformes

Description

Origin : Italy

Age : adult

Stuffed Bird Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Birds Aves Podicipediformes Podicipedidae, only a piece, with pedestal, as in photo. Prepared in 1972.
Famiglia: Podicipedidae.
Common name: Great Crested Grebe.
Syn. Colymbus cristatus.

The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus Linnaeus, 1758) is a bird of the Podicipedidae family.
They are 46–51 cm long, have a wingspan of 59–73 cm and weigh from 800 to 1400 g. In summer the birds are easy to recognize in their colorful plumage: they often swim in the middle of the lakes and disappear during rather long dives. They have a long white neck, a black head and a colorful red tuft typical of breeding plumage. The tuft is opened in case of danger.
Great crested grebes are found in lowland bodies of water throughout Europe (as far away as northern Scandinavia and Iceland). Eastern populations are migratory birds that winter along the coasts of Europe.
They feed mainly on fish that they hunt underwater. But tadpoles, newts, shrimps, spiders and water insects as well as seeds are also part of their food.
The mating of great crested grebes is notable and is also called the "penguin dance". Great crested grebes build their nest on the water, it is made of floating plant parts and is hidden in the vegetation on the shore. 3 to 4 eggs are hatched in it. The chicks can swim and even dive on their own. However, in this first period they are also carried on their backs by their parents.