Grebe

Grebe
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.

Description

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 feathers under their outer feathers. They swallow these feathers when preening, and feed them to their young. It is not known why they do this.

Grebes are poor fliers and will usually dive to safety instead of taking off.

Evolutionists consider grebes among the most primitive of birds, closely related to loons and petrels.

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

Source

The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Natioinal Geographic Society 2002)