Difference between revisions of "Grebe"

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'''Grebes''' are waterbirds found throughout the world, with 20 [[species]] on six continents. All grebes breed near fresh water, but many of the species spend the winter on the sea.
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{{Taxonomy
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|name=Grebe
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|image=Blackneck grebe.jpg
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|caption=Black-necked grebe<br/>''Podiceps nigricollis''
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|domain=Eukaryota
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|kingdom=Animalia
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|subkingdom=Bilateria
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|branch=Deuterostomia
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|superphylum=
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|phylum=Chordata
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|subphylum=Vertebrata
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|infraphylum=Gnathostomata
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|microphylum=
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|superdivision=
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|division=
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|subdivision=
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|superclass=Tetrapoda
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|class=Aves
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|subclass=Neornithes
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|infraclass=Neognathae
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|superorder=Neoaves
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|order=Podicipediformes
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|suborder=
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|infraorder=
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|superfamily=
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|families=
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|family=Podicipedidae
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|subfamily= 
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|supertribe=
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|tribe=
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|subtribe=
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|genera=Aechmophorus<br/>Podiceps<br/>Podilymbus<br/>Poliocephalus<br/>Rollandia<br/>Tachybaptus
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|genus=
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|subgenus=
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|species=
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|binomialname=
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|syn=
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|sub=
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|alt=
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|regionimg=
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|pop=
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|conservation=
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}}
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'''Grebes''' are waterbirds of the family Podicipedidae, found throughout the world, with 20 [[species]] on six continents. All grebes breed near fresh water, but many of the species spend the winter on the sea.
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==Etymology==
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The word "grebe" is of French origin; some authorities place the first use of this word in the Savoie region in 1766.<ref>http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/grebe</ref><ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grebe</ref>  Although it's debatable, it may be based on ''krib'', a word in the Breton language which meant "comb", and possibly in reference to several species having a comb-like crest on their heads.<ref>http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=grebe</ref>
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
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Grebes range in length from 11 to 32 inches. They are designed for swimming rather than walking or flying: their feet are set so far back on their bodies that they find walking difficult, and usually prefer to swim - for which the feet provide excellent propulsion. They are often seen swimming with their necks held erect. Their feet are curious for having wide lobes, which help in paddling, rather than webs like those of a [[duck]]. Grebes have a layer of soft, downy [[feather]]s under their outer feathers. They swallow these feathers when [[preening]], and feed them to their young. It is not known why they do this.
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Grebes range in length from 8 to 29 inches, and weigh from 5 ounces to 3 pounds, depending on the species. Coloration is a general dark-above/light-below pattern, with principal differences between species in head ornamentation and bill shape. Their feet are not webbed like [[loon]]s, to which they bear a superficial resemblance; rather, each toe is lobed, and propulsion through the water is done with a rapid figure-8 motion, enabling grebes to swim underwater or on the surface at great speed.  On land walking is difficult and awkward due to the position of their legs on the body.
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==Diet==
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Grebes are predatory.  Many species - especially the larger grebes - eat fish, and of these only the Western grebe has a habit of spearing fish with its beak. The smaller species live nearly-exclusively on invertebrates, such as insects and crustaceans; Pied-billed grebes feed on crayfish, and are the only grebes capable of crushing these hard-bodied shellfish.
  
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Grebes are poor fliers and will usually dive to safety instead of taking off.
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Grebes are also noted for their curious habit of swallowing feathers.  Plucking them from their own bodies, the feathers collect in the pyloric pocket of the stomach and act as a filter, preventing bones and scales from entering the intestinal tract.  The mass of collected indigestible material forms a pellet, which is then regurgitated in a manner similar to owls.  Young grebes are fed feathers by the parents almost immediately after hatching.  
  
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Evolutionists consider grebes among the most primitive of birds, closely related to [[loon]]s and [[petrel]]s.
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==Species==
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*Genus ''Aechmophorus''
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::[[Clark's grebe]], ''Aechmophorus clarkii''
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::[[Western grebe]], ''Aechmophorus occidentalis''
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*Genus ''Podiceps''
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::[[Black-necked grebe]], ''Podiceps nigricollis''
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::[[Colombian grebe]], ''Podiceps andinus'' (extinct 1977)
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::[[Great grested grebe]], ''Podiceps cristatus''
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::[[Great grebe]], ''Podiceps major''
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::[[Hooded grebe]], ''Podiceps gallardoi''
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::[[Horned grebe]], ''Podiceps auritus''
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::[[Junin grebe]], ''Podiceps taczanowskii''
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::[[Red-necked grebe]], ''Podiceps grisegena''
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::[[Silvery grebe]], ''Podiceps occipitalis''
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*Genus ''Poliocephalus''
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::[[Hoary-headed grebe]], ''Poliocephalus poliocephalus''
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::[[New Zealand grebe]], ''Poliocephalus rufopectus''
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*Genus ''Podilymbus''
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::[[Atitlán grebe]], ''Podilymbus gigas'' (extinct 1989)
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::[[Pied-billed grebe]], ''Podilymbus podiceps''
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*Genus ''Rollandia''
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::[[Titicaca grebe]], ''Rollandia microptera''
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::[[White-tufted grebe]], ''Rollandia rolland''
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*Genus ''Tachybaptus''
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::[[Alaotra grebe]], ''Tachybaptus rufolavatus'' (extinct 2010)
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::[[Australasian grebe]], ''Tachybaptus novaehollandiae''
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::[[Least grebe]], ''Tachybaptus dominicus''
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::[[Little grebe]], ''Tachybaptus ruficollis''
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::[[Madagascar grebe]], ''Tachybaptus pelzelnii''
  
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==North American Grebes==
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==References==
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* [[Horned Grebe]] - Breeds mainly in [[Canada]] and winters in the south-eastern [[United States]] and [[California]]
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{{Reflist}}
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* [[Eared Grebe]] - Breeds west of the [[Rocky mountains]], but not as far as the pacific coast; winters in [[Mexico]] and the four states bordering.
 
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* [[Pied-billed Grebe]] - Breeds in the mainland United States and Mexico.
 
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* [[Least Grebe]] - the smallest of the family, its range stretches north to southern [[Texas]].
 
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* [[Red-necked Grebe]]  - Breeds in [[canada]] and winters on the  coast as far south as california and [[Virginia]].
 
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* [[Clark's Grebe]] - Breeds west of the Rocky mountains, wintering in California, Mexico, [[New Mexico]] and Texas.
 
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* [[Western Grebe]] - Breeds west of the [[Mississippi river]], and winters on the Pacific coast.
 
  
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==Source==
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*''The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America'' (National Geographic Society 2002)
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''The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America'' (Natioinal Geographic Society 2002)
 
  
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[[category:birds]]
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Grebes]]

Latest revision as of 17:07, September 26, 2018

Grebe
Blackneck grebe.jpg
Black-necked grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Bilateria
Branch Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum Chordata
Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass Tetrapoda
Class Aves
Sub-class Neornithes
Infra-class Neognathae
Order Information
Superorder Neoaves
Order Podicipediformes
Family Information
Family Podicipedidae
Genus Information
Genera Aechmophorus
Podiceps
Podilymbus
Poliocephalus
Rollandia
Tachybaptus
Population statistics

Grebes are waterbirds of the family Podicipedidae, found throughout the world, with 20 species on six continents. All grebes breed near fresh water, but many of the species spend the winter on the sea.

Etymology

The word "grebe" is of French origin; some authorities place the first use of this word in the Savoie region in 1766.[1][2] Although it's debatable, it may be based on krib, a word in the Breton language which meant "comb", and possibly in reference to several species having a comb-like crest on their heads.[3]

Description

Grebes range in length from 8 to 29 inches, and weigh from 5 ounces to 3 pounds, depending on the species. Coloration is a general dark-above/light-below pattern, with principal differences between species in head ornamentation and bill shape. Their feet are not webbed like loons, to which they bear a superficial resemblance; rather, each toe is lobed, and propulsion through the water is done with a rapid figure-8 motion, enabling grebes to swim underwater or on the surface at great speed. On land walking is difficult and awkward due to the position of their legs on the body.

Diet

Grebes are predatory. Many species - especially the larger grebes - eat fish, and of these only the Western grebe has a habit of spearing fish with its beak. The smaller species live nearly-exclusively on invertebrates, such as insects and crustaceans; Pied-billed grebes feed on crayfish, and are the only grebes capable of crushing these hard-bodied shellfish.

Grebes are also noted for their curious habit of swallowing feathers. Plucking them from their own bodies, the feathers collect in the pyloric pocket of the stomach and act as a filter, preventing bones and scales from entering the intestinal tract. The mass of collected indigestible material forms a pellet, which is then regurgitated in a manner similar to owls. Young grebes are fed feathers by the parents almost immediately after hatching.

Species

  • Genus Aechmophorus
Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii
Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis
  • Genus Podiceps
Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Colombian grebe, Podiceps andinus (extinct 1977)
Great grested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Great grebe, Podiceps major
Hooded grebe, Podiceps gallardoi
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
Junin grebe, Podiceps taczanowskii
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
Silvery grebe, Podiceps occipitalis
  • Genus Poliocephalus
Hoary-headed grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus
New Zealand grebe, Poliocephalus rufopectus
  • Genus Podilymbus
Atitlán grebe, Podilymbus gigas (extinct 1989)
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
  • Genus Rollandia
Titicaca grebe, Rollandia microptera
White-tufted grebe, Rollandia rolland
  • Genus Tachybaptus
Alaotra grebe, Tachybaptus rufolavatus (extinct 2010)
Australasian grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Madagascar grebe, Tachybaptus pelzelnii

References

  1. ↑ http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/grebe
  2. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grebe
  3. ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=grebe
  • The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (National Geographic Society 2002)
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