The Probert Encyclopaedia of Nature

GREBE

Grebe is the common name of the birds of the genus Podiceps, family Podicipedidae, characterized by a straight conical bill, no tail, a short tarsus, toes flattened, separate, but broadly fringed at their edges by a firm membrane, and legs set so far back that on land the grebe assumes the upright position of the penguin. The geographical distribution of the genus is very wide, these birds haunting seas as well as ponds and rivers. They are excellent swimmers and divers and feed on small fishes, frogs, crustaceans, and insects; and their nests, formed of a large quantity of grass, etc, are generally placed among reeds and sedges, and rise and fall with the water. Five species are British, the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), the little grebe or dabchick (Podiceps ruficollis), the Sclavonian or horned grebe (Podiceps cornutus), the red-neck (Podiceps rubricollis), and the rare eared-grebe (Podiceps auritus). The three last are winter visitors, but the two first remain all the year. Nine species are North American, some of them (crested grebe, horned grebe) being the same as those of Europe. The great crested grebe is about 55 cm long, and has been called the satin grebe from its beautiful silvery breast-plumage, formerly much esteemed as material for ladies' muffs.
Research Grebe